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"*  ^    .  V 


FRANK    MILDMAY; 


or, 


THE  NATAL  OFFICER. 


BY    CAPTAIN    MARRTATT, 

AUTHOR  OP   "midshipman   BAST,"    "  JACOB   FAITHFtTL,"   "  PETER   SIMPLE,"   ETC. 


NEW  YORK: 

DERBY    &    JACKSON.    119    NASSAU    ST, 

1857. 


W.  II.  T1N8ON,  Stereotyper,  43  Centre  St.  Geo.  Rdssell  &  Co.,  Printers. 


FRANK   MILDMAY; 


OB, 


THE     NAYAL     OFFICER 


CHAPTER   I. 


These  are  the  errors  and  these  are  the  fruits  of  misspending  our  prime  youth  at  the 
schools  and  univei'sities,  as  we  do,  either  in  learning  mere  words,  or  such  things  chiefly 
as  were  better  unlearned. 

Milton. 

My  father  was  a  gentleman,  and  a  man  of  considerable  pro- 
perty. In  my  infancy  and  childhood  I  was  weak  and  sickly, 
but  the  favourite  of  my  parents  b6yond  all  my  brothers  and 
sisters,  because  they  saw  that  my  mind  was  far  superior  to  my 
sickly  frame,  and  feared  they  should  never  raise  me  to  man- 
hood. Contrary,  however,  to  their  expectations,  I  surmounted 
all  these  untoward  appearances,  and  attracted  much '  notice 
from  my  liveliness,  quickness  of  repartee,  and  impudence  ;  quali- 
ties which  have  been  of  much  use  to  me  through  life. 

I  can  remember  that  I  was  both  a  coward  and  a  boaster  ; 
but  I  have  frequently  remarked  that  the  quality  which  we  call 
cowardice  in  a  child,  is  no  more  than  implying  a  greater  sense 
of  danger,  and  consequently  a  superior  intellect.     We  are  all 


4  FRANK    MILDMAV  ;    OR, 

naturally  cowards  :  education  aud  observation  teach  us  to  dis- 
criixiinate  between  real  aud  apparent  danger  ;  pride  teaches  the 
concealment  of  fear,  and  habit  renders  us  indifferent  to  that 
from  which  we  have  so  often  escaped  with  impunity.  It  is 
related  of  the  great  Frederick,  that  he  misbehaved  the  first 
time  he  went  into  action  ;  and  it  is  certain  that  a  novice  in 
such  a  situation,  can  no  more  command  all  Lis  resources,  than  a 
l.oy,  when  first  bound  apprentice  to  a  shoemaker,  can  make  a 
pah'  of  shoes.  We  must  learn  our  trade,  whether  it  be  to  stand 
steady  before  the  enemy,  or  to  stitch  a  boot  ;  practice  alone  can 
make  a  Hoby  or  a  Wellingtcm. 

I  pass  on  to  my  school  days,  when  the  most  lasting  impres- 
sions are  made.  The  foundation  of  my  moral  and  religious 
instruction  had  been  laid  with  care  by  my  excellent  parents  ; 
but  alas  !  from  the  time  I  quitted  the  paternal  roof  not  one 
stone  was  added  to  the  building,  and  even  the  traces  of  what 
■existed  were  nearly  obliteratei!  by  the  deluge  of  vice  which 
threatened  soon  to  overwhelm  me.  Sometimes,  indeed,  I  feebly 
but  inefifectually  endeavoured  to  stem  the  torrent ;  at  others,  I 
suffered  myself  to  be  borne  along  with  all  its  fatal  rapidity.  I 
was  frank,  generous,  quick,  and  mischievous  ;  and  I  must  admit 
that  a  large  portion  of  what  sailors  call  "  devil "  was  openly 
displayed,  and  a  much  larger  portion  latently  deposited  in  my 
brain  and  bosom.  My  ruling  passion,  even  in  this  early  stage 
of  life,  was  pride.  Lucifer  himself,  if  he  ever  was  seven  years 
old,  had  not  more.  If  I  have  gained  a  fair  name  in  the  service, 
if  I  have  led  instead  of  followed,  it  must  be  ascribed  to  this  my 
ruling  passion.  The  world  has  often  given  me  credit  for  better 
feelings,  as  the  source  of  action,  but  I  am  not  writing  to  con- 
ceal, and  the  truth  must  be  told. 

I  was  sent  to  school  to  learn  Latin  and  Greek,  which  there 
are  various  ways  of  teaching.  Some  tutors  attempt  the  suavi- 
ier  in  modo,  my  schoolmaster  preferred  the  fortitcr  in  re ;  and, 
as  the  boatswain  said,  by  the  "  instigation  "  of  a  large  knotted 
stick,  he  drove  knowledge  into  our  skulls  as  a  caulker  drives 
oakum  into  the  scams  of  a  ship.     Under  such  tuition  we  made 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  /> 

astonishing-  progress  ;  and  whatever  my  less  desirable  acquire- 
ments may  have  been,  ray  father  had  no  cause  to  complain  of 
my  deOciency  in  classic  lore.  Superior  in  capacity  to  most  of 
my  school-fellows,  I  seldom  took  the  pains  to  learn  my  lesson 
previous  to  going  up  with  my  class  :  "  the  master's  blessing," 
as  we  called  it,  did  occasionally  descend  on  my  devoted  head, 
but  that  was  a  bagatelle  ;  I  was  too  proud  not  to  keep  pace 
with  my  equals,  and  too  idle  to  do  more. 

Had  my  schoolmaster  been  a  single  man,  my  stay  under  his 
^care  might  have  been  prolonged  to  my  advantage  ;  but  unfor- 
tunately, both  for  him  and  for  me,  he  had  a  helpmate,  and  her 
peculiarly  unfortunate  disposition  was  the  means  of  corrupting 
those  morals  over  which  it  was  her  duty  to  have  watched  with 
the  most  assiduous  care.  Her  ruling  passions  were  suspicion 
and  avarice,  written  in  legible  characters  in  her  piercing  eyes 
and  sharp  pointed  nose.  She  never  supposed  us  capable  of  tell- 
ing the  truth,  so  we  very  naturally  never  gave  ourselves  the 
trouble  to  cultivate  a  useless  virtue,  and  seldom  resorted  to  it 
tmless  it  answered  our  purpose  better  than  a  lie.  This  propen- 
sity of  Mrs.  Higginbottom  converted  our  candour  and  honesty 
into  deceit  and  fraud.  Never  believed,  we  cared  little  about 
the  accuracy  of  our  assertions;  half-starved  through  her  mean- 
ness and  parsimony,  we  were  little  scrupulous  as  to  the  ways 
and  means,  provided  we  could  satisfy  our  hunger;  and  thus  we 
soon  became  as  great  adepts  in  the  elegant  accomplishment  of 
lying  and  thieving,  under  her  tuition,  as  we  did  in  Greek  and 
Latin  under  that  of  her  husband. 

A  large  orchard,  field,  garden,  and  pouUry-yard,  attached  to 
the  estabhshment,  were  under  the  care  and  superiutcndeuce  of 
the  mistress,  who  usually  selected  one  of  the  boys  as  her  prime 
minister  and  confidential  adviser.  This  boy,  for  whose  educa- 
tion his  parents  were  paying  some  sixty  or  eighty  pounds  per 
annum,  was  permitted  to  pass  his  time  in  gathering  up  the 
windfalls  ;  in  watching  the  hens,  and  bringing  in  their  eggs, 
when  their  cackling  throats  had  announced  their  safe  accouche- 
ment; looking  after  the  broods  of  young  ducks  and  chickens,  et 


6  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

?ioc  genus  omne ;  in  short,  doing  the  duty  of  what  is  usually 
termed  the  odd  man  of  the  farm-yard.  How  far  the  parents 
would  have  been  satisfied  with  this  arrangement,  I  leave  my 
readers  to  guess  ;  but  to  us,  who  preferred  the  manual  to  men- 
tal exertion,  exercise  to  restraint,  and  any  description  of  culti- 
vation to  that  of  cultivating  the  mind,  it  suited  extremely  well ; 
and  accordingly  no  place  in  the  gift  of  government  was  ever 
the  object  of  such  solicitude  and  intrigue,  as  was  to  us  school- 
boys the  situation  of  collector  and  trustee  of  the  eggs  and 
apples. 

I  had  the  good  fortune  to  be  early  selected  for  this  impor- 
tant post,  and  the  misfortune  to  lose  it  soon  after,  owing  to  the 
cunning  and  envy  of  my  schoolfellows  and  the  suspicion  of  my 
employers.  On  my  first  coming  into  office,  I  had  forced  the 
most  sincere  resolutions  of  honesty  and  vigilance ;  but  what  are 
good  resolutions,  when  discouraged  on  the  one  hand  by  the  rcvil- 
iugs  of  suspicion,  and  assailed  on  the  other  by  the  cravings  of 
appetite?  My  morning's  collection  was  exacted  from  me  to  the 
very  last  nut,  and  the  greedy  eyes  of  my  mistress  seemed  to 
inquire  for  more.  Suspected  when  innocent,  I  became  guilty 
out  of  revenge,  was  detected  and  dismissed.  A  successor  was 
appointed,  to  whom  I  surrendered  all  my  offices  of  trust,  and 
having  perfect  leisure,  I  made  it  my  sole  business  to  supplant 
him. 

It  was  an  axiom  in  mathematics  with  me  at  that  time, 
though  not  found  in  Euclid,  that  wherever  I  could  enter  my 
head,  my  whole  body  might  follow.  As  a  practical  illustration 
of  this  proi)Osition,  I  applied  my  head  to  the  arched  hole  of  the 
hen-house  door,  and  by  scraping  awaj^  a  little  dirt,  contrive  to 
gain  admittance,  and  very  speedily  transferred  all  the  eggs  to 
my  own  chest.  When  the  new  purveyor  arrived,  he  found 
nothing  but  "  a  beggarly  account  of  empty  boxes  ;"  and  his 
perambulations  in  the  orchard  and  garden,  for  the  same  reason, 
were  equally  fruitless.  The  pilferiugs  of  the  orchard  and  gar- 
den I  confiscated  as  droits  ;  but  when  I  collected  a  sufficient 
number  of  eggs  to  furnish  a  nest,  I  gave  information  of  my  pre- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  7 

tended  discovery  to  my  mistress,  who,  thinking  she  had  not 
changed  for  the  better,  dismissed  my  successor,  and  received 
me  into  favour  again.  I  was,  like  many  greater  men,  imme- 
diately reinstated  in  office  when  it  was  discovered  that  they 
could  not  do  without  me.  I  once  more  became  chancellor  of 
the  hen-roost  and  ranger  of  the  orchard,  with  greater  power 
than  I  had  possessed  before  my  disgrace.  Had  my  mistress 
looked  half  as  much  in  my  face  as  she  did  into  my  hatful  of 
eggs,  she  would  have  read  my  guilt ;  for  at  that  unsophisti- 
cated age  I  could  blush,  a  habit  long  since  discarded  in  the 
course  of  ray  professional  duties. 

In  order  to  preserve  my  credit  and  my  situation,  I  no  longer 
contented  myself  with  windfalls,  but  assisted  nature  in  her 
labours,  and  greatly  lightened  the  burden  of  many  a  loaded 
fruit-tree  ;  by  these  means,  I  not  only  gratified  the  avarice  of 
my  mistress  at  her  own  expense,  but  also  laid  by  a  store  for  my 
own  use.  On  my  restoration  to  office,  I  had  an  ample  fund  in 
my  exchequer  to  answer  all  present  demands  ;  and  by  a  provi- 
dent and  industrious  anticipation,  was  enabled  to  lull  the  sus- 
picions of  my  employers  and  to  bid  defiance  to  the  opposition. 
It  will  readily  be  supposed  that  a  lad  of  my  acuteness  did  not 
omit  any  technical  management  for  the  purposes  of  disguise; 
the  fruits  which  I  presented  were  generally  soiled  with  dirt  at 
the  ends  of  the  stalks,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  give  them  all  the 
appearance  of  "/e/o  de  se,"  i.  e.  fell  of  itself.  Thus  in  the  course 
of  a  few  months  did  I  become  an  adept  in  vice,  from  the  mis- 
management of  those  into  whose  hands  I  was  intrusted  to  be 
strengthened  in  religion  and  vii'tue. 

Fortunately  for  me,  as  far  as  my  education  was  concerned,  I 
did  not  long  continue  to  hold  this  honourable  and  lucrative 
employment.  One  of  those  unhappy  beings  called  an  usher 
peeped  into  my  chest,  and  by  way  of  acquiring  popularity  with 
the  mistress  and  scholars,  forthwith  denounced  me  to  the  higher 
powers.  The  proofs  of  ray  peculation  were  too  glaring,  and  the 
araount  too  serious  to  be  passed  over  ;  I  was  tried,  convicted, 
condemned,  sentenced,  flogged,  and  dismissed  in  the  course  of 


8  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

half  an  houi* ;  and  such  was  the  degree  of  turpitude  attached 
to  me  on  this  occasion,  that  I  was  rendered  forever  incapable 
of  serving  in  that  or  any  other  employment  connected  with  the 
garden  or  farm  ;  I  was  placed  at  the  bottom  of  the  list,  and 
declared  to  be  the  worst  boy  in  the  school. 

This,  in  many  points  of  view,  was  too  true  ;  but  there  was 
one  boy  who  bade  fair  to  rival  me  on  the  score  of  delinquency  ; 
this  was  Tom  Crauford,  who  from  that  day  became  my  most 
intimate  friend.  Tom  was  a  fine-spirited  fellow  ;  up  to  every- 
thing ;  loved  mischief,  though  not  vicious  ;  and  was  ready  to 
suiDport  me  in  everything  through  thick  and  thin  ;  and  truly  I 
found  him  sufficient  employment.  I  threw  ofi^  all  disguise, 
laughed  at  any  suggestion  of  reform,  which  I  considered  as  not 
only  useless,  but  certain  of  subjecting  me  to  ridicule  and  con- 
tempt among  my  associates.  I  therefore  adopted  the  motto  of 
some  great  men,  "  to  be,  rather  than  seem  to  be."  I  led  in 
every  danger  ;  declared  war  against  all  drivellers  and  half  mea- 
sures ;  stole  everything  that  was  eatable  from  garden,  orchard, 
or  henhouse,  knowing  full  well  that  whether  I  did  so  or  not,  I 
should  be  equally  suspected.  Thenceforward,  all  fruit  missed 
all  arrows  shot  into  pigs,  all  stones  thrown  into  windows,  and 
all  mud  spattered  over  clean  linen  hung  out  to  dry,  were  traced 
to  Tom  and  myself ;  and  with  the  usual  alacrity  of  an  arbitrary 
police,  the  space  between  apprehension  and  punishment  was 
very  short — we  were  constantly  brought  before  the  master,  and 
as  regularly  dismissed  with  "his  blessing,"  till  we  became  hard- 
ened to  blows  and  to  shame. 

Thus,  by  the  covetousness  of  this  woman,  who  was  the  grey 
mare,  and  the  folly  of  the  master,  who,  in  anything  but  Greek 
and  Latin,  was  an  ass,  my  good  principles  were  nearly  eradi- 
cated from  my  bosom,  and  in  their  place  were  sown  seeds  which 
very  shortly  produced  an  abundant  harvest. 

There  was  a  boy  at  our  school  lately  imported  from  the  East 
Indies.  We  nicknamed  him  Johimy  Pagoda.  He  was  remark- 
able for  nothing  but  ignorance,  impudence,  great  personal 
strength,  and,  as  we  thought,  determined  resolution.     He  was 


TUE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  9 

about  nineteen  years  of  age.  One  day  he  incurred  the  displea- 
sure of  the  master,  who,  enraged  at  his  want  of  comprehension 
and  attention,  struck  liini  over  the  head  with  a  knotted  cane. 
This  appeal,  although  made  to  the  least  sensitive  part  of  his 
frame,  roused  the  indolent  Asiatic  from  his  usual  torpid  state. 
The  weapon,  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye,  was  snatched  out  of 
the  hand,  and  suspended  over  the  head  of  the  astonished  peda- 
gogue, who,  seeing  the  tables  so  suddenly  turned  against  him, 
made  the  signal  for  assistance.  I  clapped  my  hands,  shouted, 
"  Bravo  !  lay  on  Johnny — go  it — you  have  done  it  now — you 
may  as  well  be  hanged  for  a  sheep  as  a  lamb  ;"  but  the  ushers 
began  to  muster  round,  the  boys  hung  aloof,  and  Pagoda, 
uncertain  which  side  the  neutrals  would  take,  laid  down  his 
arms,  and  surrendered  at  discretion. 

Had  the  East  Indian  followed  up  his  act  by  the  application 
of  a  little  discipUne  at  the  fountain-head,  it  is  more  than  proba- 
ble that  a  popular  commotion,  not  unhke  that  of  Mas'  Aniello, 
would  have  ensued  ;  but  the  time  was  not  come  :  the  Indian 
sliowed  a  white  feather,  was  laughed  at,  flogged,  and  sent  home 
to  his  friends,  who  had  intended  him  for  the  bar  ;  but  foresee- 
ing that  he  might,  in  the  course  of  events,  chance  to  cut  a 
figure  on  the  wrong  side  of  it,  sent  hira  to  sea,  where  his  valour, 
if  he  had  any,  would  find  more  profitable  employment. 

This  unsuccessful  attempt  of  the  young  oriental  was  the  pri- 
mary cause  of  all  my  fame  and  celebrity  in  after  hfe.  I  had 
always  hated  school  ;  and  this,  of  all  others,  seemed  to  me  the 
most  hateful.  The  emancipation  of  Johnny  Pagoda  convinced 
me  that  my  deUverauce  might  be  effected  in  a  similar  manner. 
The  train  was  laid,  and  a  spark  set  it  on  fire.  This  spark  was 
supplied  by  the  folly  and  vanity  of  a  fat  French  dancing-master. 
These  Frenchmen  are  ever  at  the  bottom  of  mischief.  Mrs. 
Higginbottom,  the  master's  wife,  had  denounced  me  to  Monsieur 
Aristide  Maugrebleu  as  a  mauvais  sujet ;  and  as  he  was  a  crea- 
ture of  hers,  he  frequently  annoyed  me  to  gratify  his  patroness. 
This  fellow  was  at  that  time  about  forty-five  years  of  age,  and 
had  much  more  experience  than  agility,  having  greatly  increased 

I* 


10  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

his  bulk  by  the  roast  beef  and  ale  of  England.  "While  he  taught 
us  the  rigadoons  of  his  own  country,  his  vanity  induced  him  to 
attempt  feats  much  above  the  cumbrous  weight  of  his  frame.  I 
entered  the  lists  with  him,  beat  him  at  his  own  trade,  and  he 
beat  me  with  his  fiddlestick,  which  bi-oke  in  two  over  my  head; 
then,  making  one  more  glorious  effort  to  show  that  he  would 
not  be  outdone,  snapped  the  tendon  Achilles,  and  down  he  fell, 
Jwrs  de  combat  as  a  dancing-master.  He  was  taken  away  in  his 
gig  to  be  cured,  and  I  was  taken  into  the  school-room  to  be 
flogged. 

This  I  thought  so  unjust  that  I  ran  away.  Tom  Crauford 
helped  me  to  scale  the  wall  ;  and  when  he  supposed  I  had  got 
far  enough  to  be  out  of  danger  from  pursuit,  went  and  gave 
information,  to  avoid  the  suspicion  of  having  aided  and  abetted. 
After  running  a  mile,  to  use  a  sea-phrase,  I  hove  to,  and  began 
to  compose,  in  my  mind,  an  oration  which  I  intended  to  pro- 
nounce before  my  father,  by  way  of  apology  for  my  sudden  and 
unexpected  appearance  ;  but  I  was  interrupted  by  the  detested 
usher  and  half  a  dozen  of  the  senior  boys,  among  whom  was 
Tom  Crauford.  Coming  behind  me  as  I  sat  on  a  stile,  they  cut 
short  my  meditations  by  a  tap  on  the  shoulder,  collared  and 
marched  me  to  the  right  about  in  double  quick  time.  Tom 
Crauford  was  one  of  those  who  held  me,  and  outdid  himself  in 
zealous  invective  at  my  base  ingratitude  in  absconding  from 
the  best  of  masters,  and  the  most  affectionate,  tender,  and 
motherly  of  all  school-dames. 

The  usher  swallowed  all  this,  and  I  soon  made  him  swallow 
a  great  deal  more.  We  passed  near  the  side  of  a  pond,  the 
shoals  and  depths  of  which  were  well  known  to  me.  I  looked 
at  Tom  out  of  the  corner  of  my  eye,  and  motioned  him  to  let 
mc  go  ;  and,  like  a  mackerel  out  of  a  fisherman's  hand,  I 
darted  into  the  water,  got  up  to  my  middle,  and  then  very 
coolly,  for  it  was  November,  turned  round  to  gaze  on  my  escort, 
who  stood  at  bay,  and  looked  very  much  like  fools.  The  usher, 
like  a  low-l)red  cur,  when  he  could  no  longer  bully,  began  to 
fawn  ;  he  entreated  and  he  implored  mc  to  think  on  "  my  papa 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  11 

and  mamma  ;  how  miserable  they  would  be,  if  they  could  but 
see  me  ;  what  au  increase  of  punishment  I  was  bringing  on 
myself  by  such  obstinacy."  He  held  out,  by  turns,  coaxes  and 
threats  ;  iu  short,  every  thing  but  an  amnesty,  to  which  I  con- 
sidered myself  entitled,  having  been  driven  to  rebellion  by  the 
most  cruel  persecution. 

Argument  having  failed,  and  there  being  no  volunteers  to 
come  in  and  fetch  me  out  of  the  water,  the  poor  usher,  much 
against  his  iucliuatiou,  was  compelled  to  undertake  it.  With 
shoes  and  stockings  off,  and  trousers  tucked  up,  he  ventured 
one  foot  into  the  water,  theu  the  other  ;  a  cold  shiver  reached 
his  teeth,  and  made  them  chatter  ;  but,  at  length,  with  a  cau- 
tious tread  he  advanced  towards  me.  Being  once  iu  the  water, 
a  step  or  two  farther  was  no  object  to  me,  particularly  as  I 
knew  I  could  but  be  well  flogged  after  all,  and  I  was  quite  sure 
of  that  at  all  events  ;  so  I  determined  to  have  my  revenge  and 
amusement.  Stepping  back,  he  followed,  and  suddenly  fell 
over  head  and  ears  into  a  hole,  as  he  made  a  reach  at  me.  I 
was  already  out  of  my  depth,  and  could  swim  Hke  a  duck,  and 
as  soon  as  he  came  up,  I  perched  my  knees  on  his  shoulders 
and  my  hands  on  his  head,  and  sent  him  souse  under  a  second 
time,  keeping  him  there  until  he  had  drank  more  water  than 
any  horse  that  ever  came  to  the  pond.  I  then  allowed  him  to 
wallow  out  the  best  way  he  could  ;  and  as  it  was  very  cold,  I 
listened  to  the  entreaties  of  Tom  and  the  boys  who  stood  by, 
cracking  their  sides  with  laughter  at  the  poor  usher's  helpless 
misery. 

Having  had  my  frohc,  I  came  out,  and  voluntarily  surrendered 
myself  to  my  enemies,  from  whom  I  received  the  same  mercy,  in 
proportion,  that  a  Russian  does  from  a  Turk.  Dripping  wet, 
cold,  and  covered  with  mud,  I  was  first  shown  to  the  boys  as 
an  aggregate  of  all  that  was  bad  in  natm'e  ;  a  lecture  was  read 
to  them  on  the  enormity  of  my  offence,  and  solemn  denuncia- 
tions of  my  future  destiny  closed  the  discourse.  The  shivering 
fit  produced  by  the  cold  bath  was  relieved  by  as  sound  a  flog- 
ging as  could  be  inflicted,  while  two  ushers  held  me  ;  but  no 


12  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

effort  of  theirs  could  elicit  one  groan  or  sob  from  me  ;  my  teeth 
were  clenched  in  firm  determination  of  i-evenge  :  with  this  pas- 
sion my  bosom  glowed,  and  my  brain  was  on  fire.  The  punish- 
ment, though  dreadfully  severe,  had  one  good  effect — it  restored 
my  almost  suspended  animation  ;  and  I  strongly  recommend 
the  same  remedy  being  applied  to  all  young  ladies  and  gentle- 
men who,  from  disappointed  love  or  other  such  trifling  causes, 
throw  themselves  into^  the  water.  Had  the  miserable  usher 
been  treated  after  this  prescription,  he  might  have  escaped  a 
cold  and  rheumatic  fever,  which  had  nearly  consigned  him  to  a 
country  church-yard,  in  all  probability  to  reappear  at  the  dis- 
secting-room of  St.  Bartholomew's  Hospital. 

About  this  time  Johnny  Pagoda,  who  had  been  two  years  at 
sea,  came  to  the  school  to  visit  his  brother  and  schoolfellows. 
I  pumped  this  fellow  to  tell  me  all  he  knew  :  he  never  tried  to 
deceive  me,  or  to  make  a  convert.  He  had  seen  enough  of  a 
midshipman's  life  to  know  that  a  cock-pit  was  not  paradise  ; 
but  he  gave  rae  clear  and  ready  answers  to  all  my  questions.  1 
discuvered  that  there  was  no  schoolmaster  in  the  ship,  and  that 
the  midshipmen  were  allowed  a  pint  of  wine  a  day.  .  A  man-of- 
war,  and  the  gallows,  they  say,  refuses  nothing  ;  and  as  I  had 
some  strong  presentiment,  from  recent  occurrences,  that  if  I  did 
not  volunteer  for  the  one,  I  should,  in  all  probability,  be  pressed 
for  the  other,  I  chose  the  lesser  evil  of  the  two  :  and  having 
made  up  my  mind  to  enter  the  glorious  profession,  I  shortly 
after  communicated  my  intention  to  my  parents. 

From  the  moment  I  had  come  to  this  determination,  I  cared 
not  what  crime  I  committed,  in  hopes  of  being  expelled  from 
the  school.  I  wrote  scurrilous  letters,  headed  a  mutiny,  entered 
into  a  league  with  the  other  boys,  to  sink,  burn,  and  destroy, 
and  do  all  the  mischief  we  could.  Tom  Crauford  had  the  mas- 
ter's child  to  dry  nurse  ;  he  was  only  two  years  old  ;  Tom  let 
him  fall,  not  intentionally,  but  the  poor  child  was  a  cripple  in 
consequence  of  it  for  life.  This  was  an  accident  which,  under 
any  other  circumstances,  we  should  have  deplored,  but  to  us  it 
was  almost  a  Joke. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  13 

The  cruel  treatment  I  had  received  from  these  people  had  so 
demoralised  me,  that  those  passions,  which,  under  more  skillful 
or  kinder  treatment,  had  either  not  been  known,  or  would  have 
lain  dormant,  were  roused  into  full  and  malignant  activity  ;  I 
went  to  school  a  good-hearted  boy,  I  left  it  a  savage.  The 
accident  with  the  child  occurred  two  days  before  the  commence- 
ment of  the  vacation,  and  we  were  all  dismissed  on  the  follow- 
ing day  in  consequence.  On  my  return  home  I  stated  verbally 
to  my  father  and  mother,  as  I  had  done  before  by  letter,  that  I 
was  resolved  to  go  to  sea.  My  mother  wept,  ray  father  expos- 
tulated. I  gazed  with  apathy  on  the  one,  and  listened  with 
cold  indifference  to  the  reasoning  and  arguments  of  the  other;  a 
choice  of  schools  was  offered  to  me  where  I  might  be  a  parlour 
boarder,  and  I  was  to  finish  at  the  university,  if  I  would  but 
give  up  my  fatal  infatuation.  Nothing,  however,  would  do  ; 
the  die  was  cast,  and  for  the  sea  I  was  to  prepare. 

What  fool  w^as  it  who  said  that  the  happiest  time  of  our 
lives  is  passed  at  school  ?  There  may,  indeed,  be  exceptions, 
but  the  I'emark  cannot  be  generalized.  Stormy  as  has  been  my 
life,  the  most  miserable  part  of  it  (with  very  Uttle  exception) 
was  passed  at  school  ;  and  my  mind  never  received  so  much 
injury  from  any  scenes  of  vice  and  excess  in  after  life,  as  it 
did  from  the  shameful  treatment  and  bad  example  I  met  with 
there.  If  my  bosom  burned  with  fiend-like  passions,  whose 
fault  was  it  ?  How  had  the  sacred  pledge  given  by  the  master 
been  redeemed  ?  Was  I  not  sacrificed  to  the  most  sordid  ava- 
rice, in  the  first  instance,  and  almost  flayed  alive  in  the  second 
to  gratify  revenge  ?  Of  the  filthy  manner  in  which  our  food 
was  prepared,  I  can  only  say  that  the  bare  recollection  of  it 
excites  nausea  ;  and  to  this  hour,  bread  and  milk,  suet  pudding, 
and  shoulders  of  mutton,  are  objects  of  my  deep-rooted  aversion. 
Tlie  conduct  of  the  ushers,  who  were  either  tyrannical  extor- 
tioners or  partakers  in  our  crimes — the  constant  loss  of  our 
clothes  by  the  dishonesty  or  carelessness  of  the  servants — 
the  purloining  our  silver  spoons,  sheets  and  towels,  when  we 
went  away,  under  the  plea  of  "  custom  " — the  charges  in  the 


14  FRANK   MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

account  for  windows  which  I  had  never  l^rokeu,  and  books 
which  I  had  never  received — the  shameful  difference  between 
the  annual  cost  promised  by  the  master,  and  the  sum  actually 
charged,  ought  to  have  opened  the  eyes  of  my  father. 

I  am  aware  how  excellent  many  of  these  institutions  are,  and 
that  there  are  few  so  bad  as  the  one  I  was  sent  to.  The  history 
of  my  life  will  prove  of  what  vital  importance  it  is  to  ascertain 
the  character  of  the  master  and  mistress  as  to  other  points 
besides  teaching  Greek  and  Latin,  before  a  child  is  intrusted  to 
theu'  care.  I  ought  to  have  observed,  that  during  my  stay  at 
that  school,  I  had  made  some  proficiency  in  mathematics  and 
algebra. 

My  father  had  procured  for  me  a  berth  on  board  a  fine 
frigate  at  Plymouth,  and  the  interval  between  my  nomination 
and  joining  was  spent  by  my  parents  in  giving  advice  to  me, 
and  directions  to  the  several  tradesmen  respecting  my  equip- 
ment. The  large  chest,  the  sword,  the  cocked-hat,  the  half- 
boots,  were  all  ordered  in  succession  ;  and  the  arrival  of  each 
article,  either  of  use  or  ornament,  was  anticipated  by  me  with  a 
degree  of  impatience  which  can  only  be  compared  to  that  of  a 
ship's  company  arrived  off  Dennose  from  a  three  years'  station 
in  India,  and  who  hope  to  be  at  an  anchor  at  Spithead  before 
sunset.  The  circumstance  of  my  going  to  sea  affected  my 
father  in  no  other  way  than  as  it  interfered  with  his  domestic 
comforts  by  the  immoderate  grief  of  my  poor  mother.  In  any 
other  point  of  view,  my  choice  of  a  profession  was  a  source  of 
no  regret  to  him.  I  had  an  elder  brother,  who  was  intended 
to  have  the  family  estates,  and  who  was  then  at  Oxford,  receiv- 
ing an  education  suitable  to  his  rank  in  life,  and  also  to  learn 
how  to  spend  his  money  like  a  gentleman.  Younger  brothers 
are,  in  such  cases,  just  as  well  out  of  the  way,  particularly  one 
of  my  turbulent  disposition  :  a  man-of-war,  therefore,  like 
another  piece  of  timber,  has  its  uses.  My  father  paid  all  the 
bills  with  great  philosophy,  and  made  me  a  liberal  allowance, 
fur  my  age. 

Tlie  hour  of  departure  drew  near  ;  my  chest  had  been  sen: 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  15 

off  by  the  Plymouth  waggon,  and  a  hackney-coach  drew  up 
to  the  door,  to  convey  me  to  the  White  Horse  Cellar.  The 
letting  down  of  the  rattling  steps  completely  overthrew  the  small 
remains  of  fortitude  which  my  dearest  mother  had  reserved  for 
our  separation,  and  she  threw  her  arms  around  my  neck  in  a 
frenzy  of  grief.  I  beheld  her  emotions  with  a  countenance  as 
unmoved  as  the  figure-head  of  a  ship  ;  while  she  covered  my 
stoic  face  with  kisses,  and  washed  it  with  her  tears.  I  almost 
wondered  what  it  all  meant,  and  wished  the  scene  was  over. 

My  father  helped  me  out  of  this  dilemma  :  taking  me  firmly 
by  the  arm,  he  led  me  out  of  the  room  :  my  mother  sank  upon 
the  sofa,  and  hid  her  face  in  her  pocket-handkerchief.  I  walked 
as  slowly  to  the  coach  as  common  decency  would  permit.  My 
father  looked  at  me,  as  if  he  would  inquire  of  my  very  inward 
soul  whether  I  really  did  possess  human  feeUugs  ?  I  felt  the 
meaning  of  this,  even  in  my  then  tender  years  ;  and  such  was 
my  sense  of  propriety,  that  I  mustered  up  a  tear  for  each 
eye,  which,  I  hope,  answered  the  intended  purpose.  We  say 
at  sea,  "  When  you  have  no  decency,  sham  a  little  ;"  and  I 
verily  believe  I  should  have  beheld  my  poor  mother  in  her  coffin 
with  less  regret  than  I  could  have  foregone  the  gay  and  lovely 
scenes  which  I  anticipated. 

How  amply  has  this  want  of  feeling  towards  a  parent  been 
recalled  to  my  mmd,  and  severely  punished,  in  the  events  of 
my  vagrant  life  1 


16  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  II. 

Injuries  may  be  atoned  for  and  forgiven;  but  insults  admit  of  no  compensation. 
They  degrade  the  mind  in  its  own  esteem,  and  force  it  to  recover  its  level  by  revenge. 

Jnmos. 

There  are  certain  events  in  our  lives  poetically  and  beautifully 
described  by  Moore,  as  "  green  spots  in  memory's  waste."  Such 
are  the  emotions  arising  from  the  attainment,  after  a  long  pur- 
suit, of  any  darling  object  of  love  or  ambition  ;  and  although 
possession  and  subsequent  events  may  have  proved  to  us  that 
we  have  overrated  our  enjoyment,  and  experience  have  shown 
us  "  that  all  is  vanity,"  still,  recollection  dwells  with  pleasure 
upon  the  beating  heart,  when  the  present  only  was  enjoyed,  and 
the  picture  painted  by  youthful  and  sanguine  anticipation  in 
glowing  and  delightful  colours.  Youth  only  can  feel  this  ;  age 
has  been  often  deceived — too  often  has  the  fruit  turned  to  ashes 
in  the  mouth.  The  old  look  forward  with  distrust  and  doubt, 
and  backward  with  sorrow  and  regret. 

One  of  the  red-letter  days  of  my  life,  was  that  on  which  I  first 
mounted  the  uniform  of  a  midshipman.  My  pride  and  ecstasy 
were  beyond  description.  I  had  discarded  the  school  and  school- 
boy dress,  and,  with  them,  my  almost  stagnant  existence.  Like 
the  chrysalis  changed  into  a  butterfly,  I  fluttered  about  as  if  to 
try  my  powers  ;  and  I  felt  myself  a  gay  and  beautiful  creature, 
free  to  range  over  the  wide  domains  of  nature,  clear  of  the 
trammels  of  parents  or  schoolmasters  ;  and  my  heart  bounded 
within  me  at  the  thoughts  of  being  left  to  enjoy  at  my  own  dis- 
cretion the  very  acme  of  all  the  pleasure  that  human  existence 
could  afford  ;  and  I  observe  that  in  this,  as  in  most  other  cases, 
I  met  with  that  disappointment  which  usually  attends  us.  True 
it.  is,  that  in  the  days  of  my  youth,  I  did  enjoy  myself.  I  was 
happy  for  a  time,  if  hai)piness  it  could  be  called;  but  dearly  have 
I  paid  for  it.  I  contracted  a  debt,  which  I  have  been  liquidat- 
ing by  instalments  ever  since;  nor  am  I  yet  emancipated.    Even 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  It 

the  small  portion  of  felicity  that  fell  to  my  lot  on  this  memorable 
morning  was  brief  in  duratiuu,  and  speedily  followed  by  chagrin. 

But  to  return  to  my  uniform.  I  had  arrayed  myself  in  it  ; 
my  dirk  was  belted  round  my  waist ;  a  cocked  hat,  of  an  enor- 
mous size,  stuck  on  my  head  ;  and,  being  perfectly  satisfied 
with  my  own  appearance,  at  the  last  survey  which  I  had  made 
in  the  glass,  I  first  rang  for  the  chambermaid,  under  pretence 
of  telling  her  to  \nake  my  room  tidy,  but,  in  reality,  that  she 
might  admire  and  compliment  me,  which  she  very  wisely  did  ; 
and  I  was  fool  enough  to  give  her  half-a-crowu  and  a  kiss,  for  I 
felt  myself  quite  a-  man.  The  waiter,  to  whom  the  chamber- 
maid had  in  all  probability  communicated  the  circumstance, 
presented  himself,  and  having  made  a  low  bow,  offered  the  same 
compliments,  and  received  the  same  reward,  save  the  kiss 
Boots  would,  in  all  probability,  have  come  in  for  his  share,  had 
he  been  in  the  way,  for  I  was  fool  enough  to  receive  all  their 
fine  speeches  as  if  they  were  my  due,  and  to  pay  for  them  at  the 
same  time  in  ready  money.  I  was  a  gudgeon,  and  they  were 
sharks  ;  and  more  sharks  would  soon  have  been  about  me,  for  I 
heard  them,  as  they  left  the  room,  call  "boots"  and  "ostler," 
of  course  to  assist  in  lightening  my  purse. 

But  I  was  too  impatient  to  wait  on  my  captain  and  see  my 
ship — so  I  bounced  down  the  stairs,  and  in  the  twinkling  of  an 
eye  was  on  my  way  to  Stonehouse,  where  my  vanity  received 
another  tribute,  by  a  raw  recruit  of  marine  raising  his  hand  to 
his  head  as  he  passed  by  me.  I  took  it  as  it  was  meant,  raised 
my  hat  off  my  head,  and  shuffled  by  with  much  self-importance. 
One  consideration,  I  own,  mortified  me — this  was  that  the 
natives  did  not  appear  to  admire  me  half  so  much  as  I  admu'ed 
myself.  It  never  occurred  to  me  then,  that  middies  were  as 
plentiful  at  Plymouth  Dock  as  black  boys  at  Port  Royal, 
though,  perhaps,  not  of  so  much  value  to  their  masters.  I  will 
not  shock  the  dehcacy  of  my  fair  readers  by  repeating  all  the 
vulgar  alliterations  with  which  my  novitiate  was  greeted,  as  I 
passed  in  review  before  the  ladies  of  North  Corner,  who  met 
me  in  Fore-street.     Unsophisticated  as  I  then  was,  in  many 


18  .  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

points,  and  certainly  in  this,  I  thought  them  extremely  ill-bred. 
Fortunately  for  me,  the  prayers  of  a  certain  description  of 
people  never  prevail,  othervrise  I  should  have  been  immediately 
consigned  to  a  place,  from  which,  I  fear,  all  the  masses  of 
France  and  Italy  would  not  have  extricated  me. 

I  escaped  from  these  Sirens  without  being  bound  to  the  mast, 
like  Ulysses  ;  but,  like  him,  I  had  nearly  fallen  a  victim  to  a 
modern  Polyphemus  ;  for  though  he  had  not  one  eye  in  the 
middle  of  his  forehead,  after  the  manner  of  his  prototype,  yet 
the  rays  from  both  his  eyes  meeting  together  at  the  tip  of  his 
long  nose,  gave  him  very  much  that  appearance.  Ignorance, 
sheer  ignorance,  in  this,  as  in  many  other  cases,  was  the  cause 
of  my  disaster.  A  party  of  officers,  in  full  uniform,  were  com- 
ing from  a  court-martial.  "  Oh  ho  !"  said  I,  "  here  come  some 
of  us."  I  seized  my  dirk  in  my  left  hand,  as  I  saw  they  held 
their  swords,  and  I  stuck  my  right  hand  into  my  bosom  as  some 
of  them  had  done.  I  tried  to  imitate  their  erect  and  officer- 
like bearing  ;  I  put  my  cocked  hat  on  fore  and  aft,  with  the 
gold  rosette  dangling  between  my  two  eyes,  so  that,  on  looking 
at  it,  which  I  could  not  help  doing,  I  must  have  squinted.  And 
I  held  my  nose  high  in  the  air,  like  a  pig  in  a  hurricane, 
fancying  myself  as  much  an  object  of  admiration  to  them  as  I 
was  to  myself  We  passed  on  opposite  tacks,  and  our  respec- 
tive velocities  had  separated  us  to  the  distance  of  twenty  or 
thirty  yards,  when  one  of  them  called  to  me  in  a  voice  evi- 
dently cracked  in  his  majesty's  service — "  Hallo,  young  gentle- 
man, come  back  here." 

I  concluded  I  was  going  to  be  compUmented  on  the  cut  of 
my  coat,  to  be  asked  the  address  of  my  tailor,  and  to  hear  the 
rakish  set  of  my  hat  admired.  I  now  began  to  think  I  should 
hear  a  contention  between  the  lords  of  the  ocean,  as  to  wlio 
should  have  me  as  a  sample-middy  on  their  quarter-decks  ;  and 
I  was  even  framing  an  excuse  to  my  father's  friend  for  not 
joining  his  ship.  Judge  then  of  my  surprise  and  mortification, 
when  I  was  thus  accosted  in  an  angry  and  menacing  tone  by 
the  oldest  of  the  officers  : — 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  19 

"  Pray,  sir,  what  ship  do  you  belong  to  ?" 

"Sir,"  said  I,  proud  to  be  thus  interrogated,  "I  belong  to 

bis  majesty's  shij),   the   Lc ,"  (having  a   French  name,  I 

clapped  on  both  the  French  and  English  articles,  as  being  the 
more  impressive.) 

"  Oil,  you  do,  do  you  ?"  said  the  veteran  with  an  air  of  con- 
scious superiority;  "  then  you  will  be  so  good  as  to  turn  round, 
go  down  to  Mutton  Cove,  take  a  boat,  and  have  your  person  con- 
veyed, with  all  possible  speed,  on  board  of  his  majesty's  ship,  the 
Lee,"  (imitating  me;)  "  and  tell  the  first-lieutenant  it  is  my  order 
that  you  be  not  allowed  any  more  leave  while  the  ship  is  in  port; 
and  I  shall  tell  your  captain  he  must  teach  his  officers  better  man- 
ners than  to  pass  the  port-admiral  without  touching  their  hats." 

While  this  harangue  was  going  on,  I  stood  in  the  circle,  of 
which  I  was  the  centre,  and  the  admiral  and  captains  formed 
the  circumference;  what  little  air  there  was,  their  bodies  inter- 
cepted, so  that  I  was  not  only  in  a  stew,  but  stupefied  into  the 
bargain. 

"  There,  sir,  you  hear  me — you  may  go." 

"  Yes,  I  do  hear  you,"  thinks  I  ;  "  but  how  the  devil  am  I 
to  get  away  from  you  ?"  for  the  cruel  captains,  like  school-boys 
round  a  rat-trap,  stood  so  close  that  I  could  not  start.  Fortu- 
nately, this,  my  blockade,  which  they  no  doubt  intended  for  their 
amusement,  saved  me  for  that  time.  I  recollected  myself,  and 
said,  with  afiected  simplicity  of  manucr,  that  I  had  that  mor- 
ning put  on  my  uniform  for  the  first  time  ;  that  I  had  never 
seen  my  captain,  and  never  was  on  board  a  ship  in  all  my  life. 
At  this  explanation,  the  countenance  of  the  admiral  relaxed 
into  something  that  was  meant  for  a  smile,  and  the  captains  all 
burst  into  a  loud  laugh. 

"  Well,  young  man,"  said  the  admiral — who  w  .1.-  really  a 
good  tempered  fellow,  though  an  odd  one — "  well,  y<umg  man, 
since  you  have  never  been  at  sea,  it  is  some  excuse  for  not 
knowing  good  manners  ;  there  is  no  necessity  for  dehvering  my 
message  to  the  first-lieutenant,  but  you  may  go  on  board  your 
ship." 


20  FRANK    iMILDMAY  ;    OR, 

Having  seen  me  well  roasted,  the  captains  opened  right  and 
left,  and  let  me  pass.  As  I  left  them  I  heard  one  say,  "  Just 
caught — marks  of  the  dogs'  teeth  in  his  heels,  I  warrant  you." 
I  did  not  stop  to  make  any  reply,  but  sneaked  away,  mortified 
and  crest-fallen,  and  certainly  obeyed  tliis  the  first  order  which 
I  had  ever  received  in  the  service,  with  more  exactness  than  I 
ever  did  any  subsequent  one. 

During  the  remainder  of  my  walk,  I  touched  my  hat  to  every 
one  I  met.  I  conferred  the  honour  of  a  salute  on  midshipmen, 
master's  mates,  sergeants  of  marines,  and  two  corporals.  Nor 
was  I  aware  of  my  over  complaisance,  until  a  young  woman, 
dressed  like  a  lady,  who  knew  more  of  the  navy  than  I  did, 
asked  me  if  1  had  come  down  to  stand  for  the  borough  ? 
Without  knowing  what  she  meant,  I  replied,  "  No." 

"  I  thought  you  might,"  said  she,  "  seeing  you  are  so  d — d 
civil  to  every  body." 

Had  it  not  been  for  this  friendly  hint,  I  really  believe  I 
should  have  touched  my  hat  to  a  drummer. 

Having  gone  through  this  ordeal,  I  reached  the  inn  at 
Plymouth,  where  I  found  my  captain,  and  presented  my  father's 
letter.  He  surveyed  me  from  top  to  toe,  and  desired  the 
l^leasure  of  my  company  to  dinner  at  six  o'clock.  "In  the 
mean  time,"  he  said,  "as  it  is  now  only  eleven,  you  may  go 
aboard,  and  show  yourself  to  Mr.  Handstone,  the  first-lieuten- 
ant, who  will  cause  your  name  to  be  entered  on  the  books,  and 
allow  you  to  come  back  here  to  dine."  I  bowed  and  retired. 
And  on  my  way  to  Mutton  Cove,  I  was  saluted  by  the  females, 
with  the  appellation  of  Royal  Reefer  (midshipman)  and  Biscuit 
Nibbler  ;  but  all  this  I  neither  understood  nor  cared  for. 

I  arrived  safely  at  Mutton  Cove,  where  two  women,  seeing 
my  inquiring  eye,  and  span-new  dress,  asked  what  ship  they 
should  take  "my  honour"  to.  I  told  them  the  ship  I  wished 
to  go  on  board  of. 

"  She  lays  under  the  Obelisk,"  said  the  elder  woman,  who 
appeared  to  be  about  forty  years  of  age  ;  "  and  we  will  take 
your  honour  off  for  a  shilling." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  21 

I  agreed  to  this,  both  for  the  novelty  of  the  thing,  as  well  as 
on  account  of  my  natural  gallantry  and  love  of  female  society. 
The  elder  woman  was  mistress  of  her  profession,  handling  her 
scull  (oar)  with  great  dexterity  ;  but  Sally,  the  younger  one, 
who  was  her  daughter,  was  still  in  her  novitiate.  She  was 
pretty,  cleanly  dressed,  had  on  white  stockings,  and  sported  a 
neat  foot  and  anckle. 

"  Take  care,  Sally,"  said  the  mother  ;  "  keep  stroke  or  you 
will  catch  a  crab." 

"  Never  fear,  mother,"  said  the  confident  Sally  ;  and  at  the 
same  moment,  as  if  the  very  caution  against  the  accident  was 
the  cause  of  it,  the  blade  of  her  scull  did  not  dip  into  the  water. 
The  oar  meeting  no  resistance,  its  loom,  or  handle,  came  back 
upon  the  bosom  of  the  unlucky  Sally,  tipped  her  backwards — ■ 
up  went  her  heels  in  the  air,  and  down  fell  her  head  into  the 
bottom  of  the  boat.  As  she  was  pulling  the  stroke  oar,  her 
feet  almost  came  in  contact  with  the  rosette  of  my  cocked  hat. 

"  There  now,  Sally,"  said  the  wary  mother,  "  I  told  you  how 
it  would  be — I  knew  you  would  catch  a  crab  !" 

Sally  quickly  recovered  herself,  blushed  a  little,  and  resumed 
her  occupation. 

"  That's  what  we  call  catching  a  crab  in  our  country,"  said 
the  woman.  I  replied  that  I  thought  it  was  a  very  pretty 
amusement ;  and  I  asked  Sally  to  try  and  catch  another  :  but 
she  declined  ;  and,  by  this  time,  we  had  reached  the  side  of  the 
ship. 

Having  paid  my  naiads,  I  took  hold  of  the  main-rope,  as  I 
was  instructed  by  them,  and  mounted  the  side.  Reaching  the 
gangway,  I  was  accosted  by  a  midshipman  in  a  round  jacket 
and  trousers,  a  shirt  none  of  the  cleanest,  and  a  black  silk  hand- 
kerchief tied  loosely  round  his  neck. 

"  Who  did  you  want,  sir  ?"  said  he. 

"  I  wish  to  speak  with  Mr.  Handstone,  the  first-lieutenant," 
said  I.  He  informed  me  that  the  first-lieutenant  was  then  gone 
down  to  frank  the  letters,  and,  when  he  came  on  deck,  he  would 
acquaint  him  with  my  being  there. 


22  PRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

After  this  dialogue,  I  was  left  on  the  larboard  side  of  the 
quarter-deck  to  my  own  meditations.  The  ship  was  at  this  time 
refitting,  and  was  what  is  usually  called  in  the  hands  of  the 
dock-yard,  and  a  sweet  mess  she  was  iu.  The  quarter-deck  car- 
ronades  were  run  fore  and  aft ;  the  slides  unbolted  from  the 
sides,  the  decks  were  covered  with  pitch  fresh  poured  in  the 
seams,  and  the  calkers  "were  sitting  on  their  boxes,  ready  to 
renew  their  noisy  labours  as  soon  as  the  dinner  hour  had  expired. 
The  middies,  meanwhile,  on  the  starboard  side  of  the  quarter- 
deck, were  taking  my  altitude,  and  speculating  as  to  whether 
I  was  to  be  a  messmate  of  theirs,  and  what  sort  of  a  chap 
I  might  chance  to  be — both  these  points  were  solved  very 
speedily. 

The  first-lieutenant  came  on  deck  :  the  midshipman  of  the 
watch  presented  me,  and  I  presented  my  name  and  the  captain's 
message. 

"  It  is  all  right,  su-,"  said  Mr.  Handstone.  "  Here,  Mr.  Fly- 
block,  do  you  take  this  young  gentleman  into  your  mess  ;  you 
may  show  him  below  as  soon  as  you  please,  and  tell  hira  where 
to  hang  his  hammock  up." 

I  followed  my  new  friend  down  the  ladder,  under  the  half 
deck,  where  sat  a  woman,  selling  bread  and  butter  and  red  her- 
rings to  the  sailors;  she  had  also  cherries  and  clotted  cream, 
and  a  cask  of  strong  beer,  which  seemed  to  be  in  great  demand. 
AVe  passed  her,  and  descended  another  ladder,  which  brought 
us  to  the  'tween-decks,  and  into  the  steerage,  in  the  forepart  of 
which,  on  the  larboard  side,  abreast  of  the  mainmast,  was  my 
future  residence — a  small  hole,  which  they  called  a  berth;  it  was 
ten  feet  long  by  six,  and  about  five  feet  four  inches  liigh ;  a  small 
aperture,  about  nine  inches  square,  admitted  a  very  scanty  por- 
tion of  that  which  we  most  needed,  namely,  fresh  air  and  day- 
light. A  deal  table  occupied  a  very  considerable  extent  of  tliis 
sniall  apartment,  and  on  it  stood  a  brass  candle-stick,  with  a  dip 
caudle,  and  a  wick,  like  a  lull-blown  carnation.  The  table-cloth 
Avas  spread,  and  the  stains  of  jjort  wine  and  gravy  too  visibly 
indicated,  like  the  midshipman's  dirty  shirt,  the  near  approach 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  23 

of  Sunday.  Tlie  black  servant  was  preparing  for  dinner,  and  T 
was  shown  the  seat  I  was  to  occupy.  "  Good  heaven  !"  thouglit 
I,  as  I  squeezed  myself  between  the  ship's  side  and  the  mess- 
table,  "  and  is  this  to  be  my  future  residence  ? — better  go  back 
to  school  ;  there,  at  least,  there  is  fresh  air  and  clean  linen." 

I  would  have  written  that  moment  to  my  dear  broken-hearted 
mother,  to  tell  her  how  gladly  her  prodigal  son  would  fly  back 
to  her  arms;  but  I  was  prevented  doing  this,  first  by  pride,  and 
secondly  by  want  of  writing  materials.  Taking  my  place,  there- 
fore, at  the  table,  I  mustered  up  all  my  philosophy;  and  to 
amuse  myself,  called  to  mind  the  reflection  of  Gil  Bias,  when  he 
found  himself  in  the  den  of  the  robbers,  "  Behold  then  the  worthy 
nephew  of  my  uncle,  Gil  Perez,  caught  like  a  rat  in  a  trap." 

Most  of  my  new  associates  were  absent  on  duty  ;  the  'tween- 
decks  was  crammed  with  casks,  and  cases,  and  chests,  and  bags, 
and  hammocks;  the  noise  of  the  calkers  was  resumed  over  my 
head  and  all  around  me;  the  stench  of  bilge  water,  combin- 
ing with  the  smoke  of  tobacco,  the  eSluvia  of  gin  and  beer,  the 
frying  of  beef-steaks  and  onions  and  red  herrings — the  pressure 
of  a  dark  atmosphere  and  a  heavy  shower  of  rain,  all  conspired 
to  oppress  my  spirits,  and  render  me  the  most  miserable  dog  that 
ever  lived.  I  had  almost  resigned  myself  to  despair,  when  I 
recollected  the  captain's  invitation,  and  mentioned  it  to  Flyblock. 
"  That's  well  thought  of,"  said  he  ;  "  Murphy  also  dines  with 
him  ;  you  can  both  go  together,  and  I  dare  say  he  will  be  very 
glad  of  your  company." 

A  captain  seldom  waits  for  a  midshipman,  and  we  took  good 
care  he  should  not  wait  for  us.  The  dinner  was  in  all  respects 
one  "  on  service."  The  captain  said  a  great  deal,  the  lieutenants 
very  little,  and  the  midshipmen  nothing  at  all  ;  but  the  perform- 
ance of  the  knife  and  fork,  and  wine  glass  (as  far  as  it  could  be 
got  at,)  were  exactly  in  the  inverse  ratio.  The  company  con- 
sisted of  my  own  captain  and  two  others,  our  first-lieutenant, 
Murphy,  and  myself. 

As  soon  as  the  cloth  was  removed,  the  captain  filled  me  out  a 
glass  of  w^inc,  desired  I  would  drink  it,  and   then  go  and  see 


24  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

how  the  wind  was.  I  took  this  my  first  admonitory  hint  in  it,? 
literal  sense  and  meaning  ;  but  having  a  very  imperfect  idea  of 
the  points  of  the  compass,  I  own  I  felt  a  little  puzzled  how  I 
should  obtain  the  necessary  information.  Fortunately  for  me, 
there  was  a  weather-cock  on  the  old  church  steeple  ;  it  had  four 
letters,  which  I  certainly  did  know  were  meant  to  represent  the 
cardinal  points.  One  of  these  seemed  so  exactly  to  correspond 
with  the  dial  above  it,  that  I  made  up  my  mind  that  the  wind 
must  be  west,  and  instantly  returned  to  give  my  captain  the 
desired  information,  not  a  little  proud  with  my  success  in  having 
obtained  it  so  soon.  But  what  was  my  surprise  to  find  that  I 
was  not  thanked  for  my  trouble;  the  company  even  smiled  and 
winked  at  each  other;  the  first-lieutenant  nodded  his  head,  and 
said,  "  Rather  green  yet."  The  captain,  however,  settled  the 
point  according  to  the  manners  and  customs  in  such  cases  used 
at  sea.  "  Here,  youngster,"  said  he,  "  here  is  another  glass  for 
you  :  drink  that,  and  then  Murphy  will  show  you  what  I  mean." 
Murphy  was  my  chaperon  ;  he  swallowed  his  wine — rather  a 
gorge  deployce,  put  down  his  glass  very  energetically,  and,  bow- 
ing, left  the  room. 

When  we  had  got  fairly  into  the  hall,  we  had  the  following 
duet  : — "  What  brought  you  back  again,  you  young  green-horn  ? 
Could  not  you  take  a  hint,  and  be  off,  as  the  captain  intended  ? 
So  I  must  lose  my  wine  for  such  a  young  whelp  as  you.  I'll 
pay  you  off  for  this,  my  tight  fellow,  before  we  have  been  many 
weeks  together." 

I  listened  to  this  elegant  harangue  with  some  impatience,  and 
much  more  indignation.  "I  came  back,"  said  I,  "to  tell  the 
captain  how  the  wind  was." 

"You  be  d — d,"  replied  Murphy;  "  do  you  think  the  captain 
did  not  know  how  the  wind  was  ?  and  if  he  had  wanted  to  know, 
don't  you  think  he  would  have  sent  a  sailor  like  me,  instead  of 
s;uch  a  lubberly  whelp  as  you  ?" 

"  As  to  what  the  captain  meant,"  said  I,  "  I  do  not  know.  I 
did  as  I  was  bid — but  what  do  you  mean  by  calling  me  a  whelp  ? 
I  am  no  more  a  wliel])  than  yourself  I" 


THK    NAVAL    OFFICER.  25 

"  Oh,  you  are  not,  aii't  you  V  said  Murphy,  seizing  me  by  one 
of  my  ears,  wliich  he  ])ulk'(l  so  uuiiicrcifully  that  he  altered  the 
shape  of  it  very  considerably,  making-  it  something  like  the  lee 
board  of  a  Dutch  schuyt. 

This  was  not  to  be  borne;  though,  as  I  was  but  thirteen,  he 
seventeen,  and  a  very  stout  fellow,  I  should  rather  not  have 
sought  an  actio"  with  him.  But  he  had  begun  it :  my  honour 
was  at  stake,  and  I  only  wonder  I  had  not  drawn  my  dirk,  and 
laid  him  dead  at  my  feet.  Fortunately  for  him,  the  rage  I  was 
in  made  me  forget  I  had  it  by  my  side;  though  I  remembered 
my  uniform,  the  disgrace  brought  upon  it,  and  the  admiration 
of  the  chambermaid,  as  well  as  the  salute  of  the  sentinel,  all 
which  formed  a  combustible  in  my  brain.  I  went  off  like  a  flash, 
and  darted  my  fist  (the  weapon  I  had  been  most  accustomed  to 
wield)  into  the  left  eye  of  my  adversary,  with  a  force  and  pre- 
cision which  Crib  would  have  applauded.  Murphy  staggered 
back  with  the  blow,  and  for  a  moment  I  flattered  myself  he  bad 
had  enough  of  it. 

But  no — alas,  this  was  a  day  of  disappointments  !  he  had 
only  retreated  to  take  a  spring  ;  he  then  came  on  me  like  the 
life-guards  at  Waterloo,  and  his  charge  was  irresistible.  I  was 
upset,  pummelled,  thumped,  kicked,  and  should  probably  have 
been  the  subject  of  a  coroner's  inquest,  had  not  the  waiter  and 
chambermaid  ran  in  to  my  rescue.  The  tongue  of  the  latter 
was  particularly  active  in  my  favour  :  unluckily  for  me,  she  had 
no  other  weapon  near  her,  or  it  would  have  gone  hard  with 
Murphy.  "  Shame  1"  said  she,  "  for  such  a  great,  lubberly 
creature  to  beat  such  a  poor,  little,  innocent,  defenceless  fellow 
as  that.     What  would  his  mamma  say  to  see  him  treated  so  ?" 

"  D — n  his  mamma,  and  you  too,"  said  Pat  ;  "  look  at  my 
eye." 

"  D — n  your  eye,"  said  the  waiter  ;  "  it's  a  pity  he  had  not 
served  the  other  one  the  same  way  ;  no  more  than  you  deserve 
for  striking  a  child  ;  the  boy  is  game,  and  that's  more  than 
you  are  ;  he  is  worth  as  many  of  you,  as  will  stand  between 
this  and  the  iron  chair  at  Barbican." 


26  FKANK    MILDJ£AY  ;    OK, 

"  I'd  like  to  see  him  ducked  in  it,"  said  the  maid. 

While  this  was  going  on  I  had  resumed  my  defensive  atti- 
tude. I  had  never  once  complained,  and  had  gained  the  good 
will  of  all  the  bystanders,  among  whom  now  appeared  my  cap- 
tain and  his  friends.  The  blood  was  streaming  from  my  mouth, 
and  bore  the  marks  of  discipline  from  the  superior  prowess  of 
my  enemy,  who  was  a  noted  pugilist  for  his  age,  and  would  not 
have  received  the  hit  from  me,  if  he  had  supposed  my  presump- 
tion would  have  led  me  to  attack  him.  .The  captain  demanded 
an  explanation.  Murphy  told  the  story  in  his  own  way,  and 
gave  any  thing  but  the  true  version.  I  could  have  beaten  him 
at  that,  but  truth  answered  my  purpose  better  than  falsehood 
on  this  occasion  ;  so,  as  soon  as  he  had  done,  I  gave  my  round 
unvarnished  tale,  and,  although  defeated  in  the  field,  I  plainly 
saw  that  I  had  the  advantage  of  him  in  the  cabinet.  Murphy 
was  dismissed  in  disgrace,  and  ordered  to  rusticate  on  board  till 
his  eye  was  bright. 

"  I  should  have  confined  you  to  the  ship  myself,"  said  the 
captain,  "  but  the  boy  has  done  it  for  me  ;  you  cannot  appear 
on  shore  with  that  black  eye." 

As  soon  as  he  was  gone,  I  was  admonished  to  be  more  care- 
ful in  future.  "  You  are,"  said  the  captain,  "  like  a  young  bear; 
all  your  sorrows  are  before  you  ;  if  you  give  a  blow  for  every 
hard  name  you  receive,  your  fate'in  the  service  may  be  foreseen : 
if  weak  you  will  be  pounded  to  mummy — if  strong,  you  will  be 
hated.  A  quarrelsome  disposition  will  make  you  enemies  in 
every  rank  you  may  attain  ;  you  will  be  watched  with  a  jealous 
eye,  well  knowing,  as  we  all  do,  that  the  same  spirit  of  insolence 
and  overbearing  which  you  show  in  the  cockpit,  will  follow  you 
to  the  quarter-deck,  and  rise  with  you  in  service.  This  advice 
is  for  your  own  good  ;  not  that  I  interfere  in  these  things,  as 
every  body  and  every  thing  finds  its  level  in  a  man-of-war  ;  I 
only  wish  you  to  draw  a  line  between  resistance  against  oppres- 
sion, which  I  admire  and  respect,  and  a  litigious,  uncompro- 
mising disposition,  which  I  despise.  Now  wash  your  face  and  go 
on  board.     Try  by  all  means  to  conciliate  the  rest  of  your 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  27 

messmates,  for  first  impressions  are  every  thing,  and  rely  on  it, 
Murphy's  report  will  not  be  in  your  favour." 

This  advice  was  very  good,  but  had  the  disadvantage  of  com- 
ing too  late  for  that  occasion  by  at  least  half  au  hour.  The 
fracas  was  owing  to  the  captain's  mismanagement,  and  the  man- 
ners and  customs  of  the  navy  at  the  beginning  of  the  nineteenth 
century.  The  conversation  at  the  tables  of  the  higher  ranks  of 
the  service  in  those  days,  unless  ladies  were  present,  was  gener- 
ally such  as  a  boy  could  not  listen  to  without  injury  to  his  better 
feelings.  I  was,  therefore,  "  hinted  off  ;"  but  with  due  respect  to 
my  captain,  who  is  still  living,  I  should  have  been  sent  on  board 
of  my  ship,  and  cautioned  against  the  bad  habits  of  the  natives 
of  North  Corner  and  Barbican  ;  and  if  I  could  not  be  admitted 
to  the  mysterious  conversation  of  a  captain's  table,  I  should 
have  been  told  in  a  clear  and  decided  manner  to  depart,  without 
the  needless  puzzle  of  an  immendo,  which  I  did  not  and  could 
not  understand. 

I  returned  on  board  about  eight  o'clock,  where  Murphy  had 
gone  before  me,  and  prepared  a  reception  far  from  agreeable. 
Instead  of  being  welcomed  to  my  berth,  I  was  received  with 
coldness,  and  I  returned  to  the  quarter-deck,  where  I  walked 
till  I  was  weary,  and  then  leaned  against  a  gun.  From  this 
temporary  alleviation  I  was  roused  by  a  voice  of  thunder,  "  Lean 
off  that  gun.""  I  started  up,  touched  my  hat,  and  continued  my 
solitary  walk,  looking  now  and  then  at  the  second-heuteuant, 
who  had  thus  gruffly  addressed  me.  I  felt  a  dejection  of  spirits, 
a  sense  of  destitution  and  misery,  which  I  cannot  describe.  I 
had  done  no  wrong,  yet  I  was  suffering  as  if  I  had  committed  a 
crime.  I  had  been  aggrieved,  and  had  vindicated  myself  as  well 
as  I  could.  I  thought  I  was  among  devils,  and  not  men  ;  my 
thoughts  turned  homeward.  I  remembered  my  poor  mother  in 
her  agony  of  grief,  on  the  sofa  ;  and  my  unfeeling  heart  then 
found  that  it  needed  the  soothings  of  affection.  I  could  have 
wept,  but  I  knew  not  where  to  go  ;  for  I  could  not  be  seen  to 
cry  on  board  of  ship.  My  pride  began  to  be  humbled.  I  felt 
the  misery  of  dependence,  although  not  wanting  pecuniary  re- 


28  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

sources;  and  would  have  given  up  all  my  prospects,  to  have 
been  once  more  seated  quietly  at  home. 

The  first-lieutenant  came  on  board  soon  after,  and  I  heard 
him  relating  my  adventure  to  the  second-lieutenant.  The  tide 
now  evidently  turned  in  my  favour.  I  was  invited  down  to  the 
gun-room,  and  having  given  satisfactory  answers  to  all  the  ques- 
tions put  to  me,  Flyblock  was  sent  for,  and  I  was  once  more 
placed  under  his  jjrotection.  The. patronage  of  the  first-lieuten- 
ant, I  flattered  myself,  would  have  insured  me  at  least  common 
civility  for  a  short  time. 

I  had  now  more  leisure  to  contemplate  my  new  residence  and 
new  associates,  who  having  returned  from  the  duty  of  the  dock- 
yard, were  all  assembled  in  the  berth,  seated  round  the  table  on 
the  lockers,  which  paid  "  the  double  debt "  of  seats  and  recep- 
tacles ;  but  in  order  to  obtain  a  sitting,  it  was  requisite  either 
to  climb  over  the  backs  of  the  company,  or  submit  to  "higher 
pressure  "  from  the  last  comer.  Sucli  close  contact,  even  with 
our  best  friends,  is  never  desirable  ;  but  in  warm  weather,  in  a 
close,  confined  air,  with  a  manifest  scarcity  of  clean  linen,  it 
became  particularly  inconvenient.  The  population  here  very  far 
exceeded  the  limits  usually  allotted  to  human  beings,  in  any 
situation  of  life,  except  in  a  slave-ship.  The  midshipmen,  of 
whom  there  were  eight  full-grown,  and  four  youngsters,  were 
without  either  jackets  or  waistcoats  ;  some  of  them  had  their 
shirt-sleeves  rolled  up,  either  to  prevent  the  reception  or  to  con- 
ceal the  absorption  of  dirt  in  the  region  of  the  wristbands.  The 
repast  on  the  table  consisted  of  a  can  or  large  black-jack  of 
small-beer,  and  a  Japan  breadbasket  full  of  sea  biscuit.  To  com- 
pensate for  this  simple  fare,  and  at  the  same  time  to  cool  the 
close  atmosphere  of  the  bcrtli,  tlie  table  was  covered  with  a  large 
green  cloth,  with  a  yellow  border,  and  many  yellow  spots  withal, 
where  the  colour  had  been  discharged  by  slops  of  vinegar,  hot 
tea,  &c.,  (fee.  ;  a  sack  of  potatoes  stood  in  one  corner,  and  the 
shelves  all  around,  and  close  over  our  heads,  were  stuffed  with 
plates,  glasses,  quadrants,  knives  and  forks,  loaves  of  sugar,  dirty 
stockings  and  shirts,  and  still  fouler  table-cloths,  small  tooth- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  29 

combs,  and  ditto  large,  clothes-brushes  and  shoc-bnishes,  cocked 
hats,  dirks,  German  flutes,  mahogany  writing-desks,  a  plate  of 
salt  batter,  and  some  two  or  three  pair  of  naval  half-boots.  A 
single  candle  served  to  make  darkness  visible,  and  the  stench 
had  nearly  overpowered  me. 

The  reception  I  met  with  tended  in  no  way  to  relieve  these 
horrible  impressions.  A  black  man,  with  no  other  dress  than 
a  dirty  check  shirt  and  trousers,  not  smelling  of  amber,  stood 
within  the  door,  ready  to  obey  all  and  any  one  of  the  commands 
with  which  he  was  loaded.  The  smell  of  the  towel  he  held  in 
his  hand,  to  wipe  the  plates  and  glasses  with,  completed  my 
discomfiture  ;  and  I  fell  sick  upon  the  seat  nearest  to  me.  Re- 
covering from  this,  without  the  aid  of  any  "  ministering  angel," 
I  contracted  the  pupils  of  ray  eyes,  and  ventured  to  look  around 
me.  The  first  who  met  my  gaze  was  my  recent  foe  ;  he  bore 
the  marks  of  contention  by  having  his  eye  bound  up  with  brown 
paper  and  a  dirty  silk  pocket  handkerchief ;  the  other  was 
quickly  turned  on  me  ;  and  with  a  savage  and  brutal  coun- 
tenance, he  swore  and  denounced  the  severest  vengeance  on 
me  for  what  I  had  done.  In  this  he  was  joined  by  another 
ill-looking  fellow,  with  large  whiskers. 

I  shall  not  repeat  the  elegant  philippics  with  which  I  was 
greeted.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  I  found  all  the  big  ones  against 
me,  and  the  little  ones  neuter.  The  caterer,  supposing  I  had 
received  suitable  admonition  for  my  future  guidance,  and  that 
I  was  completely  bound  over  to  keep  the  peace — turned  all  the 
youngsters  out  of  the  berth  :  "  As  for  you,  Mr.  Fistycufif,"  said 
he,  addressing  himself  to  me,  "you  may  walk  ofi"  with  the  rest 
of  the  gang  ;  so  make  yourself  scarce,  like  the  Highlander's 
breeches." 

The  boys  all  obeyed  the  command  in  silence,  and  I  was 
not  sorry  to  follow  them.  As  I  went  out  he  added,  "  So,  Mr. 
Rumbustieus,  you  can  obey  orders,  I  see,  and  it  is  well  for  you; 
for  I  had  a  biscuit  ready  to  shy  at  your  head."  This  affront, 
after  all  I  had  suffered,  I  was  forced  to  pocket;  but  I  could  not 


30 


FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 


understand  what  the  admiral  could  mean,  when  he  said  that 
peoj^le  went  to  sea  "  to  learn  manners." 

I  soon  made  acquaintance  with  the  younger  set  of  my  mess- 
mates, and  we  reti'eated  to  the  forecastle  as  the  only  part  of 
the  ship  suitable  to  the  nature  of  the  conversation  we  intended 
to  hold.  After  one  hour's  deliberation,  and  notwithstanding  it 
was  the  first  night  I  had  ever  been  on  board  a  ship,  I  was 
unanimously  elected  leader  of  this  little  band.  I  became  the 
William  Tell  of  the  party,  as  having  been  the  first  to  resist 
the  tyranny  of  the  oldsters,  and  especially  of  the  tyrant 
Murphy.  I  was  let  into  all  the  secrets  of  the  mess  in  which 
the  youngsters  were  placed  by  the  captain  to  be  instructed 
and  kept  in  order.  Alas  !  what  instruction  did  we  get  but 
blasphemy  ?  What  order  were  we  kept  in,  except  that  of 
paying  our  mess,  and  being  forbidden  to  partake  of  those 
articles  which  our  money  had  purchased  ?  My  blood  boiled 
when  they  related  all  they  had  suffered,  and  I  vowed  I  would 
sooner  die  than  submit  to  such  treatment. 

The  hour  of  bedtime  arrived.  I  was  instructed  how  to  get 
into  my  hammock,  and  laughed  at  for  tumbling  out  on  the  op- 
posite side.  I  was  forced  to  submit  to  this  pride  of  conscious 
superiority  of  these  urchins,  who  could  only  boast  of  a  few  months 
more  practical  experience  than  myself,  and  who  therefore  called 
me  a  green-horn.  But  all  this  was  done  in  good  nature ;  and 
after  a  few  hearty  laughs  from  my  companions,  I  gained  the 
centre  of  my  suspended  bed,  and  was  very  soon  in  a  sound  sleep. 
This  was  only  allowed  to  last  till  about  four  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
when  down  came  the  head  of  my  hammock,  and  I  fell  to  the 
deck,  with  my  feet  still  hanging  In  the  air,  like  poor  Sally,  when 
she  caught  the  crab.  Stunned  and  stupefied  by  the  fall,  bewil- 
dered by  the  violent  concussion  and  the  novelty  of  all  around 
rac,  I  continued  in  a  state  of  somnambulism,  and  it  was  some 
minutes  l)eforc  I  could  recollect  myself. 

The  marine  sentinel  at  the  gun-room  door  seeing  what  had 
happened,  and  also  espying  the  person  to  whom  I  was  indebted 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  31 

for  this  favour,  very  kiudly  came  to  my  assistance.  He  knotted 
ray  lanyard,  and  restored  ray  hararaock  to  its  place,  but  he  could 
not  persuade  me  to  confide  myself  again  to  such  treacherous 
bed-posts,  for  I  thought  the  rope  had  broken;  and  so  strongly 
did  the  fear  of  another  tumble  possess  my  mind,  that  I  took  a 
blanket,  and  lay  down  on  a  chest  at  some  little  distance, 
keeping  a  sleepless  eye  directed  to  the  scene  of  my  late  dis- 
aster. 

This  was  fortunate;  for  not  many  minutes  had  elapsed,  when 
Murphy,  who  had  been  relieved  from  the  middle  watch,  came 
below,  and  seeing  my  hammock  again  hanging  up,  and  suppo- 
sing me  in  it,  took  out  his  knife  and  cut  it  down.  "  So  then," 
said  I  to  myself,  "  it  was  you,  was  it,  who  invaded  my  slum- 
bers, and  nearly  dashed  my  brains  out,  and  have  now  made  the 
second  attempt  ?"  I  vowed  to  heaven  that  I  would  have  re- 
venge; and  I  acquitted  myself  of  that  vow.  Like  the  north 
American  savage,  crouchiug  lest  he  should  see  me,  I  waited 
patiently  till  he  had  got  into  his  hammock,  and  was  in  a  sound 
sleep.  I  then  gently  pushed  a  shot-case  under  the  head  of  his 
hammock,  and  placed  the  corner  of  it  so  as  to  receive  his  head, 
for  had  it  spht  his  skull  I  should  not  have  cared,  so  exasperated 
was  I,  and  so  bent  on  revenge.  Subtle  and  silent  I  then  cut 
his  lanyard  :  he  fell,  and  his  head  coming  in  contact  with  the 
edge  of  the  shot-case,  he  gave  a  deep  groan,  and  there  he  lay. 
I  instantly  retreated  to  my  chest  and  blanket,  where  I  pretended 
to  snore,  while  the  sentinel,  who,  fortunately  for  me,  had  seen 
Murphy  cut  me  down  the  first  time,  came  with  his  lanthorn, 
and  seeing  him  apparently  dead,  removed  the  shot-case  out  of 
the  way,  and  then  ran  to  the  sergeant  of  marines,  desiring  him 
to  bring  the  surgeon's  assistant. 

While  the  sergeant  was  gone,  he  whispered  softly  to  me, 
"Lie  still;  I  saw  the  whole  of  it,  and  if  you  are  found  out  it 
may  go  hard  with  you." 

Murphy,  it  appeared  had  few  friends  in  the  ship;  all  rejoiced 
at  his  accident.  I  lay  very  quietly  in  my  blanket  while  the  sur- 
geon's assistant  dressed  the  wound,  and,  after  considerable  time. 


32  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

gucceeded  iu  restoring  the  patieut  to  bis  senses:  he  was,  how- 
ever, confined  a  fortnight  to  his  bed.  I  was  either  not  suspected, 
or,  if  I  was,  it  was  known  that  I  was  not  the  aggressor.  The 
secret  was  well  kept.  1  gave  the  marine  a  guinea,  and  took 
him  in  my  service  as  valet  de  place. 

And  now,  reader,  in  justice  to  myself,  allow  me  to  make  a  few 
remarks.  They  may  serve  as  a  palliative  to  a  certain  degree, 
for  that  unprincipled  career  which  the  following  pages  will  ex- 
pose. The  passions  of  pride  and  revenge  implanted  in  our  fallen 
natures,  and  which,  if  not  eradicated  in  the  course  of  my  educa- 
tion, ought,  at  least,  to  have  lain  dormant  as  long  as  possible, 
were,  through  the  injudicious  conduct  of  those  to  whom  I  had 
been  intrusted,  called  into  action  and  full  activity  at  a  very 
early  age.  The  moral  seeds  sown  by  my  parents,  which  might 
have  germinated  and  produced  fruit,  were  not  watered  or  attended 
to:  weeds  had  usurped  their  place,  and  were  occupying  the  ground 
which  should  have  supported  them;  and  at  this  period,  when 
the  most  assiduous  cultivation  was  necessary  to  procure  a  return, 
into  what  a  situation  was  I  thrown  ?  In  a  ship  crowded  with 
three  hundred  men,  where  oaths  and  blasphemy  interlarded 
every  sentence;  where  religion  was  wholly  neglected,  and  the 
only  honor  paid  to  the  Almighty  was  a  clean  shirt  on  a  Sunday; 
where  implicit  obedience  to  the  will  of  an  officer  was  considered 
of  more  importance  than  the  observance  of  the  Decalogue ;  and 
the  commandments  of  God  were  in  a  manner  abrogated  by  the 
articles  of  war — for  the  first  might  be  broken  with  impunity, 
and  even  with  applause,  while  the  most  severe  punishment 
awaited  any  infraction  of  the  latter. 

So  much  for  the  ship  in  the  aggregate ;  let  us  now  survey  the 
midshipmen's  berth.  Here  we  found  the  same  language  and 
the  same  manners,  with  scarcely  one  shade  more  of  refinement. 
Tlieir  only  pursuits,  when  on  shore,  were  intoxication  and  worse 
debauchery,  to  be  gloried  in  and  boasted  of  when  they  returned 
on  board.  My  captain  said  that  every  thing  found  its  level  in 
a  man-of-war.  True;  but  in  a  midshipman's  berth  it  was  the 
level  of  a  savage,  where  corporeal  strength  was  the  sine  qua  non, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  33 

and  decitkd  wlietber  you  were  to  act  the  part  of  a  tyrant  or  a 
slave.  The  discipline  of  public  schools,  bad  and  demoralizing  as 
it  is,  was  light,  compared  to  the  tyranny  of  a  midshipman's 
berth  in  1803. 

A  mistaken  notion  has  long  prevailed,  that  boys  derive  ad- 
vantages from  suffering  under  the  tyranny  of  their  oppressors  at 
school;  and  we  constantly  hear  the  praises  of  public  schools  and 
midshipmen's  berths  on  this  very  account,  namely,  "  that  boys 
are  taught  to  find  their  level."  I  do  not  mean  to  deny  but  that 
the  higher  orders  improve  by  collision  with  their  inferiors,  and 
that  a  young  aristocrat  is  often  brought  to  his  senses  by  receiv- 
ing a  sound  thrashing  from  the  sou  of  a  tradesman.  But  he 
that  is  brought  up  a  slave,  will  be  a  tyrant  when  he  has  the 
power;  the  worst  of  our  passions  arc  nourished  to  inflict  the 
same  evil  on  others  which  we  boast  of  having  suffered  ourselves. 
The  courage  and  daring  spirit  of  a  noble-minded  boy  is  rather 
broken  down  by  ill  usage,  which  he  has  not  the  power  to  resist, 
or,  surmounting  all  this,  he  proudly  imbibes  a  dogged  spirit  of 
sullen  resistance  and  implacable  revenge,  which  become  the  bane 
of  his  future  life. 

The  latter  was  my  fate  ;  and  let  not  my  readers  be  sur- 
prised or  shocked,  if,  in  the  course  of  these  adventures,  I  should 
display  some  of  the  fruits  of  that  fatal  seed,  so  early  and 
so  profusely  sown  in  my  bosom.  If,  on  my  first  coming  into 
the  ship,  I  shrunk  back  with  horror  at  the  sound  of  blasphemy 
and  obscenity — if  I  shut  my  eyes  to  the  promiscuous  inter- 
course of  the  sexes,  it  was  not  so  long.  By  insensible  degrees, 
I  became  familiarized  with  vice,  and  callous  to  its  approach. 
In  a  few  months  I  had  become  nearly  as  corrupt  as  others, 
I  might  indeed  have  resisted  longer,  but  though  the  fortress 
of  virtue  could  have  held  out  against  open  violence,  it  could 
not  withstand  the  undermining  of  ridicule.  My  young  com- 
panions, who,  as  I  have  observed,  had  only  preceded  me  six 
mouths  in  the  service,  were  already  grown  old  in  depravity  ; 
■they  laughed  at  my  squeamishness,  called  me  milksoi)  aud 
boarding-school  miss,  and  soon  made  me  as  bad  as  themselves. 

2* 


34  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

We  had  not  quite  attained  the  age  of  perpetration,  but  were 
fully  prepared  to  meet  it  when  it  came. 

I  had  not  been  two  days  on  board,  when  the  youngsters 
proposed  a  walk  into  the  main-top.  I  mounted  the  rigging 
with  perfect  confidence,  for  I  was  always  a  good  climber  ;  but 
I  had  not  proceeded  far,  when  I  was  overtaken  by  the  captain 
of  the  top  and  another  man,  who,  without  any  ceremony  or 
preface,  seized  me  by  each  arm,  and  very  deliberately  lashed 
me  fast  in  the  rigging.  They  laughed  at  my  remonstrance. 
I  asked  what  they  meant,  and  the  captain  of  the  top  said 
very  civilly,  taking  off  his  hat  at  the  same  time,  "that  it 
was  the  way  all  gemmen  were  sarved  when  they  first  went 
aloft ;  and  I  must  pay  my  footing  as  a  bit  of  a  parkasite." 
I  looked  down  to  the  quarter-deck  for  assistance,  but  every 
one  there  was  laughing  at  me  ;  and  even  the  very  little  rogues 
of  midshipmen  who  had  enticed  me  up  were  enjoying  the  joke. 
Seeing  this  was  the  case,  I  only  asked  what  was  to  pay.  The 
captain  of  the  top  said  a  seven-shilling  bit  would-  be  thought 
handsome.  This  I  promised  to  give,  and  was  released  on  my 
own  recognizances.  When  I  reached  the  quarter-deck  I  paid 
the  money. 

Having  experienced  nothing  but  cruelty  and  oi^pression 
since  I  had  been  on  board,  I  sorely  repented  of  coming  to 
sea  ;  my  only  solace  was  seeing  Murphy,  as  he  lay  in  his 
hammock,  with  his  head  bound  up.  This  was  a  balm  to  me. 
"  I  bide  my  time,"  said  I  ;  "  I  will  be  revenged  on  all  of  you  ;" 
and  so  I  was.  I  let  none  escape;  I  had  them  all  in  their  turns, 
and  glutted  my  thirst  for  revenge. 

I  had  been  three  weeks  on  board,  when  the  ship  was  ready 
for  sea.  I  had  acquired  the  favour  of  the  first-lieutenaut  by 
a  constant  attention  to  the  little  duties  he  gave  me  to  perform. 
I  had  been  put  into  a  watch,  and  stationed  in  the  foretop, 
and  quartered  at  the  foremost  guns  on  the  main  deck.  I 
was  told  by  the  youngsters  that  the  first-lieutenaut  was  a 
harsh  officer,  and  implacable  wheu  once  he  took  a  dislike  ; 
his  manners,  however,  even  wheu  under  the  greatest  excite- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  35 

meut,  were  always  those  of  a  i)erfect  geutlemaa,  and  I  cou- 
tiuued  living  on  good  terms  with  him.  But  with  the  second- 
lieutenant  1  was  not  so  fortunate.  He  had  ordered  me  to  take 
the  jolly-boat  and  bring  off  a  woman  whom  he  kept ;  I  remon- 
strated and  refused,  and  from  that  moment  we  never  were 
friends. 

Murphy  had  also  recovered  from  his  fall,  and  returned  to  his 
duty  ;  his  malice  towards  me  increased,  and  I  had  no  peace  or 
comfort  in  his  presence.  One  day  he  threw  a  biscuit  at  my 
head,  calling  me,  at  the  same  time,  a  name  which  reflected  on 
the  legitimacy  of  my  birth,  in  language  the  most  coarse  and 
vulgar.  In  a  moment,  all  the  admonitions  which  I  had  received, 
and  all  my  sufferings  for  impetuosity  of  temper,  were  forgotten  ; 
the  blood  boiled  in  my  veins,  and  trickled  from  my  wounded 
forehead.  Dizzy,  and  almost  sightless  with  rage,  I  seized  a 
brass  candlestick,  the  bottom  of  which  (to  keep  it  steady  at  sea) 
was  loaded  with  lead,  and  threw  it  at  him  with  all  my  might ; 
had  it  taken  effect,  as  I  intended,  that  offence  would  have  been 
his  last.  It  missed  his  head,  and  struck  the  black  servant  on 
the  shoulder  :  the  poor  man  went  howling  to  the  surgeon,  in 
whose  care  he  remained  for  many  days. 

Murphy  started  up  to  take  instant  vengeance,  but  was  held 
by  the  other  seniors  of  the  mess,  who  unanimously  declared  that 
such  an  offence  as  mine  should  be  punished  in  a  more  solemn 
manner.  A  mock  trial  (without  adverting  to  the  provocation 
I  had  received)  found  me  guilty  of  insubordmation  to  the 
"  oldsters,"  and  setting  a  bad  example  to  the  youngsters.  I 
was  sentenced  to  be  cobbed  with  a  worsted  stocking,  filled  with 
wet  sand,  I  was  held  down  on  my  face  on  the  mess-table,  by 
four  stout  midshipmen  ;  the  surgeon's  assistant  held  my  wrist,- 
to  ascertain  if  my  pulse  indicated  exhaustion  ;  while  Murphy,  at 
his  own  particular  request,  became  the  executiuner.  Uad  it 
been  any  other  but  him,  I  should  have  given  vent  to  my  agon- 
izing pain  by  screams,  but,  like  a  sullen  Ebo,  I  was  resolved  to 
endure  even  to  death,  rather  than  gratify  him  by  any  expres 
sion  of  pain.     After  a  most  severe  punishment,  a  cold  sweat  an-" 


36  FRAXK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

faintness  alarmed  the  surgeon's  assistant.  I  was  then  released, 
but  ordered  to  mess  on  my  chest  for  a  fortnight  by  myself.  As 
soon  as  I  was  able  to  stand,  and  had  recovered  my  breath,  I 
declared  in  the  most  solemn  manner,  that  a  repetition  of  the 
offence  should  produce  the  action  for  which  I  had  suffered,  and 
I  would  then  appeal  to  the  captain  for  justice  ;  "and,"  said  I, 
turning  to  Murphy,  "it  was  I  who  cut  down  your  hammock, 
and  had  very  nearly  knocked  out  your  brains.  I  did  it  in  re- 
turn for  your  cowardly  attack  on  me  ;  and  I  will  do  it  again,  if 
I  suffer  martyrdom  for  it :  for  every  act  of  tyranny  you  commit, 
I  wUl  have  revenge.  Try  me  now,  and  see  if  I  am  not  as  good 
as  my  word."  He  grinned,  and  turned  pale,  but  dared  do  no 
more,  for  he  was  a  coward. 

I  was  ordered  to  quit  the  berth,  which  I  did,  and  as  I  went 
out,  one  of  the  mates  observed,  that  I  was  "  a  proper  malignant 
devil." 

This  violent  scene  produced  a  sort  of  cessation  from  hostili- 
ties. Murphy  knew  that  he  might  expect  a  decanter  at  his 
head  or  a  knife  in  his  side,  if  I  was  provoked  ;  and  that  peace 
which  I  could  not  gain  from  his  compassion,  I  obtained  from 
his  fears.  The  affair  made  a  noise  in  the  ship.  With  the  offi- 
cers in  the  gun-room  I  lost  ground,  because  it  was  misrepre- 
sentecj.  With  the  men  I  gained  favour,  because  they  hated 
Murphy.  They  saw  the  truth,  and  admired  me  for  my  deter- 
mined, resistance. 

Sent  to  Coventry  by  the  officers,  I  sought  the  society  of  the 
men.  I  learned  rapidly  the  practical  part  of  my  duty,  and 
profit(j!d  by  the  uncouth  criticism  of  these  rough  mariners  on 
the  defective  seamanship  of  their  superiors.  A  sort  of  compact 
was  made  between  us  :  they  promised  that  whenever  they 
deserted,  it  should  not  be  from  ray  boat  when  on  duty,  and  I 
promised  to  let  them  go  and  drink  at  jjublic  houses  as  long  as 
I  could  S[)arc  them.  In  spite,  however,  of  this  mutual  under- 
standing, two  of  them  violated  their  faith  the  night  before  we 
went  to  sea,  and  left  the  boat  of  which  I  had  charge  ;  and  as 
I  had  disobeyed  orders  in  letting  them  go  to  a  public  house,  I 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  3t 

was,  on  my  return  to  the  ship,  dismissed  from  the  quarter-deck, 
and  ordered  to  do  my  duty  in  the  fore-top. 


CHAPTER    III. 

The  might  ot  England  flush'd 

To  anticipate  the  scene  ; 
And  her  van  the  fleeter  rush'd 

O'er  the  deadly  space  between. 
"  Hearts  of  oak  !"  our  captains  cried ;  when  each  gun 
From  its  adamantine  lips 
Spread  a  death-shade  round  the  ships, 
Like  the  hurricane  eclipse 

Of  the  sun.  Oampbeix. 

CoNsiDERiN'G  my  youth  and  inexperience,  and  the  trifling  neglect 
of  which  I  was  accused,  there  are  few,  even  of  the  most  rigid 
disciplinarians,  who  will  not  admit  that  I  was  both  unjustly  and 
unkindly  treated  by  the  first-lieutenant,  who  certainly,  with  all 
my  respect  for  him,  had  lent  himself  to  my  enemies.  The 
second-lieutenant  and  Mr.  Murphy  did  not  even  conceal  their 
feelings  on  the  occasion,  but  exulted  over  my  disgrace. 

The  ship  was  suddenly  ordered  to  Portsmouth,  where  the 
captain,  who  had  been  on  leave,  was  expected  to  join  us,  which 
he  did  soon  after  our  arrival,  when  the  first-lieutenant  made  his 
reports  of  good  and  bad  conduct  during  his  absence.  I  had 
been  about  ten  days  doing  duty  in  the  fore-top,  and  it  was  the 
intention  of  Mr.  Handstone,  to  which  the  captain  seemed  not 
disinclmed,  to  have  given  me  a  flogging  at  the  gun,  as  a 
gratuity  for  losing  the  men.  This  part  of  the  sentence,  how- 
ever, was  not  executed.  I  continued  a  member  of  the  midship- 
men's mess,  but  was  not  allowed  to  enter  the  berth  :  my  meals 
were  sent  me,  and  I  took  them  solus  on  my  chest.  The  young- 
sters spoke  to  me,  but  only  by  stealth,  being  afraid  of  the 
oldsters,  who  had  sent  me  to  the  most  rigid  Coventry. 

My  situation  in  the  fore-top  was  nearly  nominal.     I  was  sent 


38  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

aloft  when  the  bauds  were  called,  or  in  my  watch,  and  amused 
myself  with  a  book  until  we  went  below,  unless  there  was  any 
little  duty  for  me  to  do,  which  did  not  appear  above  my 
strength.  The  men  doted  on  me  as  a  martyr  in  then-  cause, 
and  delighted  in  giving  me  every  instruction,  in  the  art  of 
knotting  and  si^licing,  rigging,  reefing,  furliug,  &c.,  &c.  ;  and  I 
honestly  own  that  the  happiest  hours  I  passed  in  the  ship  were 
during  my  seclusion  among  these  honest  tars. 

Whether  my  enemies  discovered  this  or  not,  I  cannot  say  ; 
but  shortly  after  our  arrival  I  was  sent  for  by  the  captain  into 
his  own  cabin,  where  I  received  a  lecture  on  my  misconduct, 
both  as  to  my  supposed  irritable  and  quarrelsome  disposition, 
and  also  for  losing  the  men  out  of  the  boat.  "  In  other 
respects,"  he  added,  "  your  punishment  would  have  been  much 
more  severe,  but  for  your  general  good  conduct;  and  I  have  no 
doubt,  from  this  Uttle  well-timed  severity,  that  you  will  in 
future  conduct  yo.urself  with  more  propriety.  I  therefore 
release  you  from  the  disgraceful  situation  in  which  you  are 
placed,  and  allow  you  to  return  to  your  duty  on  the  quarter- 
deck." 

The  tears  which  no  brutality  or  ill-treatment  could  wring 
from  me,  now  flowed  in  abundance,  and  it  was  some  minutes 
before  I  could  recover  myself  sufficiently  to  thank  him  for  his 
kindness,  and  to  explain  the  cause  of  my  disgrace.  I  told  him, 
that  since  I  had  joined  the  ship  I  had  been  treated  like  a  dog  ; 
that  he  alone  had  been  ignorant  of  it,  and  that  he  alone  had 
behaved  to  me  with  humanity.  I  then  related  all  my  sufferings, 
from  the  moment  of  that  fatal  glass  of  wine  up  to  the  time  I 
was  speaking.  I  did  not  conceal  the  act  of  cutting  down  Mur- 
phy's hammock,  nor  of  throwing  the  candlestick  at  his  head. 
I  assured  him  I  never  gave  any  provocation  ;  that  I  never 
struck  without  being  first  stricken.  I  said,  moreover,  that  I 
woulil  never  receive  a  blow,  or  be  called  an  improper  name, 
without  resenting  it,  as  far  as  I  was  able.  It  was  my  nature, 
and  if  killed,  I  could  not  help  it.  "  Several  men  have  run 
away,"  said  T,  "  since  I  came  into  the  ship,  and  before;  and  the 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  39 

ofiScers  nntler  whose  cliargu  they  Avere,  only  received  a  repri- 
mand, wliile  I,  who  have  just  come  to  sea,  have  been  treated 
with  the  greatest  and  most  degrading  severity." 

The  captain  listened  to  my  defence  with  attention,  and  I 
thought  seemed  very  much  struck  with  it.  I  afterwards  learned 
that  Mr.  llandstone  had  received  a  reprimand  for  his  harsh 
treatment  to  me.  He  observed  that  I  should  one  day  turn  out 
a  shining  character  or  go  to  the  devil. 

It  appeared  pretty  e\ideut  to  me,  that  however  I  might  have 
roused  the  pride  and  resentment  of  the  senior  members  of  the 
mess,  by  my  resistance  to  arbitrary  power,  that  I  had  gained 
some  powerful  friends,  among  whom  was  the  captain.  Many  of 
the  officers  admired  that  dogged,  "don't-care"  spu-it  of  resist- 
ance which  I  so  persevcringly  displayed,  and  were  forced  to 
admit  that  I  had  right  on  my  side.  I  soon  perceived  the 
change  of  mind  by  the  frequency  of  invitations  to  the  cabin  and 
gun-room  tables.  The  youngsters  were  proud  to  receive  me 
again  openly  as  their  associate  ;  but  the  oldsters  regarded  me 
with  a  jealousy  and  suspicion  like  that  of  an  unpopular  govern- 
ment to  a  favourite  radical  leader. 

I  soon  arranged  with  the  boys  of  my  own  age  a  plan  of 
resistance,  or  rather  of  self-defence,  which  proved  of  great 
importance  in  our  future  warfare.  One  or  two  of  them  had 
nerve  enough  to  follow  it  up  ;  the  others  made  fair  promises, 
but  fell  off  in  the  hour  of  trial.  My  code  consisted  of  only  two 
maxims  :  the  first  was,  always  to  throw  a  bottle,  decanter, 
candlestick,  knife,  or  fork,  at  the  head  of  any  person  who 
should  strike  one  of  us,  if  the  assailant  should  appear  too 
strong  to  encounter  in  fair  fight.  The  second  was,  never  to 
allow  ourselves  to  be  upjustly  defrauded  of  our  rights  ;  to  have 
an  equal  share  of  what  we  paid  equally  for  ;  and  to  gain  by 
artifice  that  which  was  withheld  by  force, 

I  explained  to  them  that  by  the  first  plan  we  should  ensure 
civility,  at  least  ;  for  as  tyrants  are  generally  cowards,  they 
would  be  afraid  to  provoke  that  anger  which  in  some  unlucky 
moment  might  be  fatal  to  them,  or  maim  them  for  life.    By  the 


40  FKANK    MILDMAY  ;    OB, 

second,  I  promised  to  procure  them  au  equal  share  of  the  good 
things  of  this  life,  the  greater  part  of  which  the  oldsters 
engrossed  to  themselves  ;  in  this' latter  we  were  much  more 
unanimous  than  the  former,  as  it  incurred  less  personal  risk.  I 
was  the  projector  of  all  the  schemes  for  forage,  and  was 
generally  successful. 

At  length  we  sailed  to  join  the  fleet  off  Cadiz,  under  the  com- 
mand of  Lord  Nelson.  I  shall  not  pretend  to  describe  the  pas- 
sage down  Channel  and  across  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  I  was  as 
sea-sick  as  a  lady  in  a  Dover  packet,  until  inured  to  the  motion 
of  the  ship  by  the  merciless  calls  to  my  duties  aloft,  or  to  re- 
lieve the  deck  in  my  watch. 

We  reached  our  station,  and  joined  the  immortal  Nelson  but 
a  few  hours  before  that  battle  in  which  he  lost  his  life  and 
saved  his  country.  The  history  of  that  important  day  has  been 
so  often  and  so  circumstantially  related  that  I  cannot  add  much 
more  to  the  stock  on  hand.  I  am  only  astonished,  seeing  the 
confusion  and  invariahle  variableness  of  a  sea-fight,  how  so  much 
could  be  knovvu.  One  observation  occurred  to  me  then,  and  I 
have  thought  of  it  ever  since  with  redoubled  conviction  ;  this 
was,  that  the  admiral,  after  the  battle  began,  was  no  admiral 
at  all :  he  could  neither  see  nor  be  seen  ;  he  could  take  no  ad- 
vantage of  the  enemy's  weak  points  or  defend  his  own  ;  his  ship, 
the  Victory,  one  of  our  finest  three-deckers,  was  in  a  manner 
tied  up  alongside  a  French  eighty-gun  ship. 

These  observations  I  have  read  in  some  naval  work,  and  in 
my  mind  they  receive  ample  confirmation.  I  could  not  help 
feeling  an  agony  of  anxiety  (young  as  I  was)  for  my  country's 
glory,  when  I  saw  the  noble  leaders  of  our  two  lines  exposed  to 
the  united  fire  of  so  many  ships.  I  thought  Nelson  \yas  too 
much  exposed,  and  think  so  now.  •  Experience  has  confirmed 
what  youthful  fancy  suggested  ;  the  enemy's  centre  should  have 
been  Macadtnnized  Ijy  our  seven  three-deckers,  some  of  wliich, 
by  being  placed  in  tlio  rear,  had  little  sliarc  in  the  action  ;  and 
but  for  the  intimidation  which  Uicir  presence  afforded,  might  as 
well  have  been  at  Sj)illii^ail.      1  mean  no  reflection  on  the  offi- 


THE    NAVAT.    OFFICER.  41 

cers  who  had  charge  of  them  ;  accidental  concurrence  of  light 
wind  and  station  in  the  line  threw  IhcMn  at  such  a  distance  from 
the  enemy  as  kept  them  in  the  back  ground  the  greater  part  of 
tiie  day. 

Others,  again,  were  in  enviable  situations,  but  did  not,  as  far 
as  I  could  learn  from  the  officers,  do  quite  as  much  as  they  might 
have  done.  This  defect  on  oiu"  part  being  met  by  equal  disad- 
vantages, arising  from  nearly  similar  causes  on  that  of  the 
enemy,  a  clear  victory  remained  to  us.  The  aggregate  of  the 
British  navy  is  brave  and  good  ;  and  we  must  admit  that  in  this 
day,  "  when  England  expected  every  man  to  do  his  duty,"  there 
were  but  few  who  disappointed  their  country's  hopes. 

When  the  immortal  signal  was  communicated,  I  shall  never, 
no,  never,  forget  the  electric  eflfect  it  produced  through  the 
fleet.  I  can  compare  it  to  nothing  so  justly  as  to  a  match  laid 
to  a  long  train  of  gunpowder ;  and  as  Englishmen  are  the  same, 
the  same  feeling,  the  same  enthusiasm,  was  displayed  in  every 
ship ;  tears  ran  down  the  cheeks  of  many  a  noble  fellow  when 
the  affecting  sentence  was  made  known.  It  recalled  every  past 
enjoyment,  and  filled  the  mind  with  fond  anticipations,  which, 
with  many,  were  never,  alas  !  to  be  realized.  They  went  down 
to  their  guns  without  confusion  ;  and  a  cool,  deliberate  courage 
from  that  moment  seemed  to  rest  on  the  countenance  of  every 
man  I  saw. 

My  captain,  though  not  in  the  line,  was  no  niggard  in  the 
matter  of  shot,  and  though  he  had  no  real  business  to  come 
within  range  until  called  by  signal,  still  he  thought  it  his  duty 
to  be  as  near  to  our  ships  engaged  as  possible,  in  order  to 
afford  them  assistance  when  required.  I  was  stationed  at  the 
foremost  guns  on  the  main  deck,  and  the  ship  cleared  for 
action  ;  and  though  on  a  comparatively  small  scale,  I  cannot 
imagine  a  more  solemn,  grand,  or  impressive  sight,  than  a  ship 
prepared  as  ours  was  on  that  occasion.  Her  noble  tier  of  guns, 
in  a  line  gently  curving  out  towards  the  centre  ;  the  tackle  laid 
across  the  deck  ;  the  shot  and  wads  prepared  in  ample  store 
(round,  grape,  and  canister)  ;  the  powder-boys  each  with  his 


42  FRANK   MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

box  full,  with  perfect  apparent  indifference  as  to  the  approach- 
ing conflict.  The  captains  of  guns,  with  their  priming-boxes 
buckled  round  their  waists  ;  the  locks  fixed  upon  the  guns ;  the 
lanyards  laid  around  them  ;  the  officers  with  their  swords 
drawn,  standing  by  their  respective  divisions. 

The  quarter-deck  was  commanded  by  the  captain  in  person, 
assisted  by  the  first-lieutenant,  the  lieutenant  of  marines,  a 
party  of  small-arm  men,  with  the  mate  and  midshipmen,  and  a 
portion  of  seamen  to  attend  the  braces  and  fight  the  quarter- 
deck guns.  The  boatswain  was  on  the  forecastle  ;  the  gunner 
in  the  magazine,  to  send  up  a  supply  of  powder  to  the  gnns  ; 
the  carpenter  watched  and 'reported  from  time  to  time,  the 
depth  of  water  in  the  well  ;  he  also  walked  round  the  wings  or 
vacant  spaces  between  the  ship's  side  and  the  cables  and  other 
stores.  He  was  attended  by  his  mates,  who  were  provided 
with  shot-plugs,  oakum,  and  tallow,  to  stop  any  shot-holes 
which  might  be  made. 

The  surgeon  was  in  the  cockpit  with  his  assistants.  The 
knives,  saws,  tourniquets,  sponges,  basins,  wine  and  water,  were 
all  displayed,  and  ready  for  the  first  unlucky  patient  that  might 
be  presented.  This  was  more  awful  to  me  than  anything  I  had 
seen.  "  How  soon,"  thought  I,  "may  I  be  stretched,  mangled 
and  bleeding,  on  this  table,  and  have  occasion  for  all  the  skill 
and  all  the  instruments  I  now  see  before  me  1"  I  turned  away, 
and  endeavom"ed  to  forget  it  all. 

As  soon  as  the  fleet  bore  up  to  engage  the  enemy,  we  did 
the  same,  keeping  as  near  as  we  could  to  the  admiral,  whose 
signals  we  were  ordered  to  repeat.  I  was  particularly  aston- 
ished with  the  skillful  manner  in  which  this  was  done.  It  was 
wonderful  to  see  how  instantaneously  the  same  flags  were  dis- 
played at  our  mast-heads  as  had  been  hoisted  by  the  admiral  ; 
and  the  more  wonderful  this  nppeared  to  me,  since  his  flags 
were  rolled  up  in  round  balls,  which  were  not  broke  loose  until 
they  had  reached  the  mast-head,  so  tliat  tlie  signal  oflicer  of  a 
repeater  had  to  make  out  the  number  of  the  flag  during  its  pas- 
sage alol't  in  disguise.     This  was  done  by  the  power  of  good 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  43 

telescopes,  aud  from  habit,  and  sometimes  by  anticipation  of  tlie 
signal  that  would  be  next  made. 

The  reader  may  perhaps  not  be  aware  that,  among  civilized 
nations,  in  naval  warfare,  ships  in  the  line  never  fire  at  frigates, 
unless  they  provoke  hostility  by  interposing  between  belligerent 
ships,  or  firing  into  them,  as  was  the  case  in  the  Nile,  when  Sir 
James  Sumaurez,  in  the  Orion,  was  under  the  necessity  of  sink- 
ing the  Artemise,  which  he  did  with  one  broadside,  as  a  reward 
for  her  temerity.  Under  this  pax-in-bdlum  sort  of  compact,  we 
might  have  come  off  scot-free,  had  we  not  partaken  very  liber- 
ally of  the  shot  intended  for  larger  ships,  which  did  serious 
damage  among  our  people.  The  two  British  lines  running 
down  parallel  to  each  other,  and  nearly  perpendicular  to  the 
crescent  line  of  the  combined  fleets,  was  the  grandest  sight  that 
was  ever  witnessed.  As  soon  as  our  van  was  within  gun-shot 
of  the  enemy,  they  opened  their  fire  on  the  Royal  Sovereign 
aud  the  Victory  :  but  when  the  first-named  of  these  noble  ships 
rounded  to,  under  the  stern  of  the  Santa  Anna,  and  the  Vic- 
tory had  very  soon  after  laid  herself  on  board  the  Redoubtable, 
the  clouds  of  smoke  enveloped  both  fleets,  and  little  was  to  be 
seen  except  the  falling  of  masts,  and  here  and  there,  as  the 
smoke  blew  away,  a  ship  totally  dismasted. 

One  of  these  proved  to  be  English,  and  our  captain  seeing 
her  between  two  of  the  enemy,  bore  up  to  take  her  in  tow  :  at 
the  same  time,  one  of  our  ships  of  the  line  opened  a  heavy  tire 
on  one  of  the  French  line-of-battle  ships,  unluckily  situated  in  a 
right  line  between  us,  so  that  the  shot  which  missed  the  enemy 
sometimes  came  on  board  of  us.  I  was  looking  out  of  the  bow 
port  at  the  moment  that  a  shot  struck  our  ship  on  the  stern, 
between  wind  aud  water.  It  was  the  first  time  I  had  ever  seen 
the  effect  of  a  heavy  shot ;  it  made  a  great  splash,  and,  to  me, 
as  I  then  thought,  a  very  unusual  noise,  throwing  a  great  deal 
df  water  in  my  face.  I  very  naturally  started  back,  as  I  believe 
many  a  brave  fellow  has  done.  Two  of  the  seamen  quartered 
at  my  guns  laughed  at  me.  I  felt  ashamed,  and  resolved  to 
show  no  more  such  weakness. 


44  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

This  ahot  was  very  soon  succeeded  by  some  others  not  quite 
so  harmless  ;  one  came  into  the  bow-port,  and  killed  the  two 
men  who  had  witnessed  my  trepidation.  My  pride  having  been 
hurt  that  these  men  should  have  seen  me  flinch,  I  will  own  that 
I  was  secretly  pleased  when  I  saw  them  removed  beyond  the 
reach  of  human  interrogation. 

It  would  be  difficult  to  describe  my  feelings  on  this  occasion. 
Not  six  weeks  before,  I  was  the  robber  of  hen-roosts  and  gar- 
dens— the  hero  of  a  horse-pond,  ducking  an  usher — now  sud- 
denly, and  almost  without  any  previous  warning  or  reflection, 
placed  in  the  midst  of  carnage,  and  an  actor  in  one  of  those 
grand  events,  by  which  the  fate  of  the  civilized  world  was 
to  be  decided. 

A  quickened  circulation  of  blood,  a  fear  of  immediate  death, 
and  a  still  greater  fear  of  shame,  forced  me  to  an  involuntary 
and  frequent  change  of  position  ;  and  it  required  some  time, 
and  the  best  powers  of  intellect,  to  reason  myself  into  that 
frame  of  mind  in  which  I  could  feel  as  safe  and  as  unconcerned 
as  if  we  had  been  in  harbour.  To  this  state  I  at  last  did 
attain,  and  soon  felt  ashamed  of  the  perturbation  under  which 
I  laboured  before  the  firing  began.  I  prayed,  it  is  true,  but  my 
prayer  was  not  that  of  faith,  of  trust,  or  of  hope — I  prayed 
only  for  safety  from  imminent  personal  danger  :  and  my  orisons 
consisted  of  one  or  two  short,  pious  ejaculations,  without  a 
thought  of  repentance  for  the  past  or  amendment  for  the 
future. 

But  when  we  had  once  got  fairly  into  action,  I  felt  no  more 
of  this,  and  beheld  a  poor  creature  cut  in  two  by  a  shot  with 
the  same  indifference  that  at  any  other  time  I  should  have  seen 
a  butcher  kill  an  ox.  Whether  my  heart  was  bad  or  not,  I 
cannot  say  ;  but  I  certainly  felt  my  curiosity  was  gratified 
more  than  my  feelings  were  shocked,  when  a  raking  shot  killed 
seven,  and  wounded  three  more.  I  was  sorry  for  the  men,  and,, 
for  the  world,  would  not  have  injured  them  ;  but  I  had  a  philo- 
sophic turn  of  mind  ;  I  liked  to  judge  of  causes  and  effects  ; 
and  1  was  secretly  pleased  at  seeing  the  effect  of  a  raking  shot. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  45 

Towards  four  p.m.  the  firing  began  to  abate,  the  smoke 
cleared  away,  and  the  calm  sea  became  ruffled  with  an  increas- 
ing breeze.  The  two  hostile  fleets  were  quiet  spectators  of 
each  other's  disasters.  We  retained  possession  of  nineteen  or 
twenty  sail  of  the  line.  Some  of  the  enemy's  ships  were  seen 
running  away  into  Cadiz  ;  while  four  others  passed  to  wind- 
ward of  our  fleet  and  made  their  escape.  A  boat  going  from 
our  ship  to  one  near  us,  I  jumped  into  her,  and  learned  the 
death  of  Lord  Nelson,  which  I  communicated  to  the  captain, 
who,  after  paying  a  tribute  to  the  meniory  of  that  great  man, 
looked  at  me  with  much  complacency.  I  was  the  only  young- 
ster that  had  been  particularly  active,  and  he  immediately  de- 
spatched me  with  a  message  to  a  ship  at  a  short  distance.  The 
first-lieutenant  asked  if  he  should  not  send  au  officer  of  more 
experience.  "  No,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  he  shall  go  :  the  boy 
knows  very  well  what  he  is  about !" — and  away  I  went,  not  a 
little  proud  of  the  confidence  placed  in  me. 

Farther  details  of  this  eventful  day  are  to  be  found  recorded 
in  our  national  histories  ;  it  will,  therefore,  be  needless  to  re- 
peat them  here.  When  I  met  my  messmates  at  supper  in  the 
berth,  I  was  soiTy  to  see  Murphy  among  them.  I  had  flattered 
myself  that  some  fortunate  shot  would  have  for  ever  divested  me 
of  any  further  care  on  his  account ;  but  his  time  was  not  come. 

"  The  devil  has  had  a  fine  haul  to-day  1"  said  an  old  master's 
mate,  as  he  took  ofi"  his  glass  of  grog.  x 

"  Pity  you,  and  some  others  I  could  name,  had  not  been  in 
the  net  !"  thinks  I  to  myself. 

"  I  hope  plenty  of  the  lieutenants  are  bowled  out !"  said  an- 
other; "  we  shall  stand  some  chance  then  of  a  httle  promotion!" 

When  the  hands  were  turned  up  to  muster,  the  number  of 
killed  amounted  to  uine,  and  the  wounded  to  thirteen.  When 
this  was  made  known,  there  seemed  to  be  a  general  smile  of  cou- 
gratulation  at  the  number  fallen,  rather  than  of  regret  for  their 
loss.  The  vanity  of  the  ofiicers  seemed  tickled  at  the  dispro- 
portionate slaughter  in  a  frigate  of  our  size,  as  compared  to 
what  they  had  heard  the  ships  of  the  line  had  suffered. 


46  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

I  attended  the  surgeon  in  the  steerage,  to  which  place  the 
wounded  were  removed,  and  saw  all  the  amputations  performed, 
without  flinching  ;  while  men  who  had  behaved  well  in  the 
action  fainted  at  the  sight.  I  am  afraid  I  almost  took  plea- 
sure in  observing  the  operations  of  the  surgeon,  without  once 
reflecting  on  the  pain  suffered  by  the  patient.  Habit  had  now 
begun  to  corrupt  my  mind.  I  was  not  cruel  by  nature ;  I  loved 
the  deep  investigation  of  hidden  things  ;  and  this  day's  action 
gave  me  a  very  clear  insight  into  the  anatomy  of  the  human 
frame,  which  I  had  seen  cut  in  two  by  shot,  lacerated  by 
splinters,  carved  out  with  knives,  and  separated  with  saws. 

Soon  after  the  action,  we  were  ordered  to  Spithead,  with 
duplicate  dispatches.  One  morning  I  heard  a  midshipman  say, 
"  he  would  do  his  old  father  out  of  a  new  kit."  I  inquired 
what  that  meant,  was  first  called  a  green-horn  for  not  knowing, 
and  then  had  it  explained  to  me.  "  Don't  you  know,"  said  my 
instructor,  "  that  after  every  action  there  is  more  canvas,  rope, 
and  paint  expended  in  the  warrant  oflicer's  accounts  than  were 
destroyed  by  the  enemy  ?" 

I  assented  to  this  on  the  credit  of  the  informer,  with- 
out knowing  whether  it  was  true  or  false,  and  he  pro- 
ceeded. 

"  How  are  we  to  have  white  hammock-cloths,  skysail  masts, 
and  all  our  finery,  besides  a  coat  of  paint  for  the  ship's  sides 
every  six  weeks,  if  we  don't  expend  all  these  things  in  action, 
and  pretend  they  were  lost  overboard  or  destroyed  ?  The  list 
of  defects  are  given  in  to  the  admiral,  he  signs  the  demand, 
and  the  old  commissioner  must  come  down  with  the  stores, 
whether  he  will  or  not.  I  was  once  in  a  sloop  of  war,  when  a 
large  forty^four-gun  frigate  ran  on  board  of  us,  carried  away 
her  jib-boom,  and  left  her  large  fine  weather-jib  hanging  on  our 
fore-yard.  It  was  made  of  beautiful  Russia  duck,  and,  to  be 
sure,  didn't  we  make  a  gang  of  white  hammock-clothes  fore  and 
aft,  besides  white  trousers  for  the  men  ?  Well,  now,  you  must 
know,  that  as  we  make  Uncle  George  suffer  for  the  stores,  so  I 
mean  to  make  dad  suffer  for  my  traps.     I  mean  to  lose  my 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  41 

chest  overboard,  with  all  my  '  kit,'  and  return  home  to  him  ami 
the  old  woman  ju8t  fit  lor  the  fashion." 

"  And  do  you  really  mean  to  deceive  your  father  and 
mother  in  that  way  ?"  replied  I,  with  much  apparent  innocence. 

"  Do  I  ?  to  be  sure  I  do,  you  flat.  How  am  I  to  keep  up 
my  stock,  if  I  don't  make  the  proper  use  of  an  action  like  this 
that  we  have  been  in  ?" 

I  took  the  hint ;  it  never  once  occurred  to  me  that  if  I  had 
fairly  and  candidly  stated  to  my  i)arents  that  my  stock  of 
clothes  was  insufficient  for  my  appearance  as  a  gentleman  on 
the  quarter-decTc,  that  they  would  cheerfully  have  increased 
it  to  any  reasonable  extent.  But  I  had  been  taught  artifice 
and  cunning  ;  I  could  tell  the  truth  where  it  served  my  pur- 
pose, as  well  as  a  lie;  but  here  I  thought  deception  was  a  proof 
at  once  of  spirit  and  of  merit  ;  and  I  resolved  to  practise  it,  if 
only  to  raise  myself  a  trifling  degree  in  the  estimation  of  my 
unworthy  associates.  I  had  become  partial  to  deception  from 
habit,  and  [)referred  exercising  my  own  ingenuity  in  out  wit- 
ting my  father,  to  obtaining  what  I  needed  by  more  straight- 
forward and  honourable  measures. 

The  ship  needed  some  repairs,  and  by  the  indulgence  of  the 
captain,  who  was  pleased  with  my  conduct,  I,  who  required  so 
much  instruction  in  the  nature  and  cause  of  her  defects,  was 
allowed  to  be  absent  while  they  were  made  good.  By  this 
oversight,  I  lost  all  that  improvement  which  I  should  have 
gained  by  close  attention  to  the  unrigging  or  shipping  of  the 
ship  ;  the  manner  of  returning  her  stores  ;  taking  out  her 
masts  and  ballast,  and  seeing  her  taken  into  dock  ;  the  shape 
of  her  bottom,  and  the  good  or  bad  qualities  which  might  be 
supposed  to  accelerate  or  retard  her  movements.  All  this  was 
sacrificed  to  the  impatience  of  seeing  my  parents  ;  to  the  vain 
glory  of  boasting  of  the  action  in  which  I  had  been  pi'esent  ; 
and,  perhaps,  of  being  encouraged  to  tell  lies  of  things  which  I 
never  saw,  and  to  talk  of  feats  which  I  never  performed.  I 
loved  effect  :  and  I  timed  the  moment  of  my  return  to  my 
father's  house  (through  a  correspondence  wMth  my  sister)  to  be 


48  FRANK   MILDMAY  ;    OB, 

just  as  a  large  party  sat  down  to  a  sumptuous  dinner.  I  had 
only  been  absent  three  months,  it  is  true  ;  but  it  was  my  first 
cruise,  and  then,  "  I  had  seen  so  much,  and  had  been  in  such 
very  interesting  situations." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

'Twill  be  time  to  go  home.    What  shall  I  say  I  have  done?    It.must  be  a  very  plau- 
sive  invention  that  carries  it.     I  find  my  tongue  is  too  foOl-hardy. 

Shjlesfeaee. 

Reaching  the  well-known  mansion  of  my  father,  I  knocked 
softly  at  the  front  door,  was  admitted,  and  without  saying  a 
word  to  the  servant,  rushed  to  the  head  of  the  dining-room 
table,  and  threw  my  arms  round  my  mother's  neck,  who  only 
screamed,  "  Good  heavens,  my  child  !"  and  fell  into  hysterics. 
My  father,  who  was  in  the  very  midst  of  helping  his  soup, 
jumped  to  embrace  me  and  assist  my  mother.  The  company 
all  rose,  like  a  covey  of  partridges  :  one  lady  spoiled  a  new  pink 
satin  gown  by  a  tip  of  the  elbow  from  her  next  neighbour,  just 
as  a  spoonful  of  soup  had  reached  "  the  rosy  portals  of  her 
niGuth  ;"  the  little  spaniel.  Carlo,  set  up  a  loud  and  incessant 
bark  ;  and  in  one  minute  the  whole  comely  arrangement  of  the 
feast  was  converted  into  anarchy  and  confusion. 

Order  was,  however,  soon  restored  :  my  mother  recovered 
her  composure — my  father  shook  rae  by  the  hand — the  company 
all  agreed  that  I  was  a  very  fine,  interesting  boy — the  ladies 
resumed  their  seats,  and  I  had  the  satisfaction  to  observe  that 
my  sudden  appearance  had  not  deprived  them  of  their  appetites. 
I  soon  convinced  them  that  in  this  particular,  at  least,  I  also 
was  in  high  training.  My  midshipman's  life  had  neither  dis- 
qualified nor  disgusted  mc  with  the  luxuries  of  the  table  :  nor 
did  I  manifest  the  slightest  backwardness  or  diffidence  when 
invited  by  the  gentlemen  to  take  wine.  I  answered  every  ques- 
tion witli  such  fluency  of  speech,  and  such  compound  interest  of 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  49 

words,  as  sometimes  caused  the  propoimder  to  regret  that  he 
had  put  me  to  the  trouble  of  speaking. 

I  gave  a  very  florid  description  of  the  fight :  praised  some 
admirals  and  captains  for  their  bravery,  sneered  at  others,  and 
accused  a  few  of  rightdown  misconduct.  Now  and  then,  by 
way  of  carrying  conviction  into  my  auditors'  very  souls,  I  ram- 
med home  my  charges  with  an  oath,  at  which  my  father  looked 
grave,  my  mother  held  up  her  finger,  the  gentlemen  laughed, 
and  the  ladies  all  said,  with  a  smile,  "  Sweet  boy  ! — what 
animation  ! — what  sense  ! — what  discernment  !"  Thinks  I  to 
myself,  "  You  are  as  complete  a  set  of  gulls  as  ever  picked  up  a 
bit  of  biscuit !" 

Next  morning,  while  my  jjpcent  'arrival  was  still  warm,  I 
broke  the  subject  of  my  chest  to  my  father  and  mother  at  break- 
fast ;  indeed,  my  father,  very  fortunately  for  me,  began  it  by 
inquiring  how  my  stock  of  clothes  held  out  ? 

"Bad  enough,"  said  I,  as  I  demolished  the  third  egg,  for  I 
still  had  a  good  appetite  at  breakfast. 

"  Bad  enough  !"  repeated  my  father  ;  "  why  you  were 
extremely  well  fitted  with  every  thing." 

"  Very  true,  sir,"  said  I  ;  "  but  then  you  don't  know  what  a 
man-of-war  is  in  clearing  for  action  ;  every  thing  not  too  hot  or 
too  heavy  is  chucked  overboard  with  as  little  ceremony  as  I 
swallow  this  muffin.  '  Whose  hat-box  is  this  V  '  Mr.  Spratt's, 
sir.'  '  D — n  Mr.  Spratt,  I'll  teach  him  to  keep  his  hat-box  safe 
another  time  ;  over  with  it ' — and  away  it  went  over  the  lee 
gangway.  Spratt's  father  was  a  hatter  in  Bond-street,  so  we 
all  laughed." 

"And  pray,  Frank,"  said  my  mother,  "did  your  box  go  in 
the  same  way  ?" 

"  It  kept  company,  I  assure  you.  I  watched  them  go  astern, 
with  tears  in  ray  eyes,  thinking  how  angry  you  would  be." 

"Well,  but  the  chest,  Frank,  what  became  of  the  chest? 
You  said  that  the  Vandals  had  some  respect  for  heavy  objects; 
and  yours,  I  am  sure,  to  my  cost,  had  very  considerable  specific 
gravity." 

3 


60  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

"  That's  very  true,  sir  ;  but  you  have  no  notion  how  much  it 
was  lightened  the  first  day  the  ship  got  to  sea.  I  was  lying  on 
it  as  sick  as  a  whale — the  first-lieutenant  and  mate  of  the  lower 
deck  came  down  to  see  that  the  men's  berths  were  clean  ;  I,  and 
my  Noah's  ark,  lay  slap  in  the  way — '  Who  have  we  here  ?'  said 
Mr.  Handstone.  '  Only  Mr.  Mildmay,  and  his  chest,  sir,'  said 
the  sergeant  of  marines,  into  whose  territory  I  acknowledge  I 
had  made  very  considerable  encroachments.  '  Only  !'  repeated 
the  lieutenant,  '  I  thought  it  had  been  one  of  the  big  stones  for 
the  new  bridge,  and  the  owner  of  it  a  drunken  Irish  hodsman.' 
I  was  too  sick  to  care  much  about  what  they  said." 
"  You  forget  your  breakfast,"  said  my  sister. 
"  I'll  thank  you  for  another  muffin,  and  another  cup  of  coffee," 
said  I. 

"  Poor  fellow  !"  said  my  mother,  "  what  he  must  have  suf- 
fered I" 

"Oh  I  I  have  not  told  you  half  yet,  my  dear  mother  ;  I  only 
wonder  I  am  alive." 

"  Ahve,  indeed,"  said  my  aunt  Julia  ;  "  here,  my  dear,  here 
is  a  small  trifle  to  help  you  to  replenish  the  stock  you  have  lost 
in  the  service  of  your  country.  Noble  little  fellow  !  What 
should  we  do  .without  sailors  ?" 

I  pocketed  the  little  donation — it  was  a  ten-pounder;  finished 
my  breakfast,  by  adding  a  slice  of  ham  and  half  a  French  roll 
to  the  articles  already  shipped,  and  then  continued  my  story. 

"The  first  thing  Mr.  Handstone  said,  was,  that  my  chest 
was  too  big  :  and  the  next  thing  he  said,  was,  '  Tell  the  carpen- 
ter I  want  him.  Here,  Mr.  Adze,  take  this  chest ;  reduce  it 
one  foot  in  length,  and  one  in  height.'  '  Ay,  ay,  sir,'  said  Adze; 
'  come,  young  gentleman,  move  off,  and  give  me  your  key.' 
Sick  as  I  was,  I  knew  remonstrance  or  prayer  was  alike  useless, 
so  I  crawled  off  and  presented  my  key  to  the  carpenter,  who 
very  deliberately  unlocked,  and  as  expeditiously  unloaded,  all 
my  treasure.  The  midshipmen  all  gathered  round.  The  jars 
of  preserves,  and  the  cakes  of  gingerbread  which  you,  my  dear- 
est mother,  had  so  nicely  packed  up  for  me,  were  seized  with 


THE    KAVAL    OFFICER.  51 

greediness,  and  devoured  before  my  face.  One  of  thera  thrust 
his  filthy  paw  into  a  pot  of  black  currant  jelly,  which  you  gave 
me  for  a  sore  throat,  and  held  a  handful  of  it  to  my  mouth, 
knowing  at  the  same  time  that  I  was  ready  to  be  sea-sick  iu  his 
hand. 

"  I  shall  never  bear  the  sight  of  jelly  again,"  said  my  sister. 

"  The  nasty  brutes  1"  said  my  aunt. 

"Well,"  I  resumed,  "all  my  nice  things  went,  and,  sick  as  I 
was,  I  wished  them  gone  ;  but  when  they  laughed  and  spoke 
disrespectfully  of  you,  my  dear  mother,  I  was  ready  to  fly  up 
and  tear  their  eyes  out." 

"  Never  mind,  my  dear  boy,"  said  my  mother,  "  we  will  make 
all  right  again." 

"  So  I  suppose  we  must,"  said  my  father;  "  but  no  more  jelly 
and  gingerbread,  if  you  please,  my  dear.  Proceed  with  your 
story,  Frank." 

"  Well,  sir,  in  half  an  hour  my  chest  was  ready  for  me  again; 
but  while  they  were  about  it,  they  might  have  takeu  off  another 
foot,  for  I  found  ample  space  to  stow  what  the  plunderers  had 
left.  The  preserve-jars,  being  all  empty,  were  given  of  course 
to  the  marines;  and  some  other  heavy  articles  being  handed 
away,  I  was  no  longer  puzzled  how  to  stow  them.  After  this 
you  know,  sir,  we  had  the  action,  and  then  chest  and  bedding 
and  all  went  to  the ." 

"  Do  they  throw  all  the  chests  and  bedding  overboard  on 
these  occasions  ?"  said  my  father,  with  a  cool  and  steady  gaze 
in  my  face,  which  I  had  some  trouble  in  facing  back  again. 

"  Yes;  always  everything  that  is  in  the  way,  and  my  chest 
was  in  the  way,  and  away  it  went.  You  know,  sir,  I  could  not 
knock  down  the  first-lieutenant;  they  would  have  hanged  me  at 
the  yard-arm." 

"  Thank  Heaven  you  did  not,  my  love,"  said  my  mother; 
"  what  has  happened  can  be  repaired,  but  that  could  never  have 
been  got  over.     And  your  books,  what  has  become  of  them  ?" 

"  All  went  in  the  lump.  They  are  somewhere  near  th'e 
entrance  of  the  Gut  of  Gibraltar — all  lost,  except  my  Bible;  T 


52  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

saved  that,  as  I  happened  to  be  reading  it  in  my  berth  the  night 
before  the  action." 

"  Excellent  boy  !"  exclaimed  my  mother  and  aunt  both  to- 
gether; "  I  am  sure  he  speaks  the  truth." 

"  I  hope  he  does,"  said  my  father,  dryly;  "  though  it  must  be 
owned  that  these  sea-fights,  however  glorious  for  Old  England, 
are  very  expensive  amusements  to  the  parents  of  young  mid- 
shipmen, unless  the  boys  happen  to  be  knocked  on  the  head." 
*  Whether  my  father  began  to  smell  a  rat,  or  whether  he  was 
afraid  of  putting  more  questions  for  fear  of  hearing  more  fibs,  I 
know  not;  but  I  was  not  sorry  when  the  narrative  was  con- 
cluded, and  I  dismissed  with  flying  colours. 

To  my  shame  be  it  spoken,  the  Bible  that  had  assisted  me 
so  much  in  my  mother's  opinion,  had  never  but  once  been 
opened  since  I  left  home,  and  that  was  to  examine  if  there  were 
any  bank-notes  between  the  leaves,  having  heard  of  such  things 
being  done,  merely  to  try  whether  young  gentlemen  did  "  search 
the  Scriptures." 

My  demands  were  all  made  good — I  believe  with  the  greater 
celerity,  as  I  began  to  grow  very  tiresome;  my  sea  manners 
were  not  congenial  to  the  drawing-room.  My  mother,  aunt, 
and  sister,  were  very  different  from  the  females  I  had  been  in 
the  habit  of  seeing  on  board  the  frigate.  My  oaths  and  treat- 
ment of  the  servants,  male  and  female,  all  conspired  to  reconcile 
the  whole  family  to  my  departure.  They  therefore  heard  with 
pleasure  that  my  leave  was  expired;  and,  having  obtained  all  I 
wanted,  I  did  not  care  one  pin  how  soon  I  got  clear  of  them; 
so  when  the  coach  came  to  the  door,  I  jumped  in,  drove  to  the 
Golden  Cross,  and  the  next  morning  joined  my  ship. 

I  was  received  with  cheerfulness  and  cordiality  by  most  of 
my  shipmates,  except  Murphy  and  some  of  his  cronies;  nor  did 
one  feeling  of  regret  or  compunction  enter  my  mind  for  the  lies 
and  hypocrisy  with  which  I. had  deceived  and  cheated  my 
parents.  The  reader  will  probably  be  aware,  that  except  the 
circumstamje  of  reducing  the  size  of  my  chest,  and  the  seizure 
and  confiscation  of  my  jars  and  gingerbread,  there  was  scarcely 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  53 

a  vestige  of  truth  in  my  story.  That  I  had  lost  most  of  my 
things  was  most  true ;  but  they  were  lost  by  my  own  careless- 
ness, and  not  by  being  thrown  overboard.  After  losing  the 
key  of  my  chest,  which  happened  the  day  I  joined,  a  rapid 
decrease  of  my  stock  convinced  the  lirst-lieuteuaut  that  a  much 
smaller  package  might  be  made  of  the  remainder,  and  this  was 
the  sole  cause  of  my  chest  being  converted  uito  a  razee. 

My  fresh  stock  of  clothes  I  brought  down  in  a  trunk,  which 
I  found  very  handy,  and  contrived  to  keep  in  better  order  tliai^ 
I  had  formerly  done.  The  money  given  me  to  procure  more 
bedding,  I  pocketed  :  indeed,  1  began  to  giow  cunning.  I  per- 
ceived that  the  best-dressed  midshipmen  had  always  the  most 
pleasant  duties  to  perform.  I  was  sent  to  bring  off  parties  of 
ladies  who  came  to  visit  the  ship,  and  to  dine  with  the  captain 
and  officers.  I  had  a  tolerably  good  address,  and  was  reckoned 
a  very  handsome  boy;  and  though  stout  of  my  age,  the  ladies 
admitted  me  to  great  freedom,  under  pretence  of  my  being  still 
a  dear  little  darling  of  a  middy,  and  so  perfectly  innocent  in  my 
mind  and  manners.  The  fact  is,  I  was  kept  in  much  better 
order  on  board  my  ship  than  I  was  in  my  father's  house — so 
much  for  the  habit  of  discipline;  but  this  was  all  outside  show. 
My  father  was  a  man  of  talent,  and  knew  the  world,  but  he 
knew  notliing  of  the  navy;  and  when  I  had  got  him  out  of  his 
depth,  I  served  him  as  I  did  the  usher;  that  is,  I  soused  him 
and  his  company  head  over  heels  in  the  horsepond  of  their  own 
ignorance.  Such  is  the  power  of  local  knowledge  and  cunning 
over  abstruse  science  and  experience. 

So  much  assurance  had  I  acquired  by  my  recent  success  in 
town,  that  my  self-confidence  was  increased  to  an  incredible 
degree.  My  apparent  candour,  impudence,  and  readiness,  gave 
a  currency  to  the  coinings  of  my  brain  which  far  surpassed  the 
dull  matter-of-fact  of  my  unwary  contemporaries. 

Of  my  boyish  days,  I  have  now  almost  said  enough.  The 
adventures  of  a  midslii])mau,  during  the  first  three  years  of  his 
probationary  life,  might,  if  fully  detailed,  disgust. more  than 
amuse,  and  corrupt  more  than  they  would  improve;  I  therefore 


54  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

pass  on  to  the  age  of  sixteen,  when  my  person  assumed  an  out- 
line of  which  I  had  great  reason  to  be  proud,  since  I  often 
heard  it  the  subject  of  encomium  among  the  fair  sex,  and  their 
award  was  confirmed  even  by  ray  companions. 

My  mind  kept  pace  with  my  person  in  every  acquirement 
save  those  of  morality  and  religion.  In  these,  alas  1  I  became 
daily  more  aud  more  deficient,  and,  for  a  time,  lost  sight  of 
them  altogether.  The  manly,  athletic  frame,  and  noble  coun- 
•  tenance  with  which  I  was  blessed,  served  to  render  me  only 
more  like  a  painted  sepulchre — all  was  foul  within.  Like  a 
beautiful  snake,  whose  poison  is  concealed  under  the  gold  and 
azure  of  its  scales,  my  inward  man  was  made  up  of  pride, 
revenge,  deceit,  and  selfishness,  and  my  best  talents  were  gene- 
rally applied  to  the  worst  purposes. 

In  the  knowledge  of  my  profession  I  made  rapid  progress, 
because  I  delighted  in  it,  and  because  my  mind,  active  and 
elastic  as  my  body,  required  and  fed  on  scientific  research.  I 
soon  became  an  expert  navigator,  and  a  good  practical  seaman, 
and  all  this  I  acquired  by  my  own  apphcatiou.  We  had  no 
schoolmaster;  and  while  the  other  youngsters  learned  how  to 
work  a  common  day's  work  from  the  instruction  of  the  older 
midshipmen,  I,  who  was  no  favourite  with  the  latter,  was  rejected 
from  their  coteries.  I  determined,  therefore,  to  supply  the  de- 
ficiency myself,  and  this  I  was  enabled  to  do  by  the  help  of  a 
good  education.  I  had  been  well  grounded  in  mathematics, 
and  was  far  advanced  in  Euclid  iind  algebra,  previous  to 
leaving  school :  thus  I  had  a  vast  superiority  over  my  com- 
j)anious. 

The  great  difficulty  was,  to  renew  my  application  to  study, 
after  numy  months  of  idleness.  This,  however,  I  accomplished, 
and  after  having  been  one  year  at  sea,  kept  a  good  reckoning, 
and  sent  in  my  day's  work  to  the  captain.  The  want  of  instruc- 
tion which  I  first  felt  in  the  study  of  navigation,  proved  in  the 
end  of  great  service  to  me.  I  was  forced  to  study  more 
intensely,  and  to  conq)rehend  the  principles  on  vvhicli  I  founded 
my  theory,  so  that  1  was  prepared  to  prove  by  mathematical 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER,  55 

doraonstration,  what  others  could  ouly  assert  who  worked  by 
"  inspection." 

The  pride  of  surpassing  my  seniors,  and  the  hope  of  exposing 
tlieir  ignorance,  stimulated  me  to  inquiry,  and  roused  me  to 
application.  The  books  which  I  had  reported  lost  to  my 
father,  were  hauded  out  from  the  bottom  of  my  chest,  and 
read  with  avidity  ;  and  many  others  I  borrowed  from  the 
officers,  who,  I  must  do  the  justice  to  say,  not  only  lent  them 
with  cheerfulness,  but  offered  me  the  use  of  the  cabin  to 
study  in. 

Thus  I  acquired  a  taste  for  reading.  I  renewed  my  acquaint- 
ance with  the  classic  authors.  Horace  and  Virgil,  licentious, 
but  alluring,  drove  me  back  to  the  study  of  Latin,  and  fixed  in 
my  mind  a  knowledge  of  the  dead  languages,  at  the  expense  of 
my  morals.  AVhether  the  exchange  were  profitable  or  not,  is 
left  to  wiser  heads  than  mine  to  decide  ;  my  business  is  with 
facts  ouly. 

Thus  while  the  ungenerous  malice  of  the  elder  midshipmen 
thought  to  have  injured  me  by  leaving  me  in  ignorance,  they 
did  me  the  greatest  possible  service,  by  throwing  me  on  my 
own  resources.  1  continued  on  pretty  nearly  the  same  terms 
with  my  shipmates  to  the  last.  With  some  of  the  mess-room 
officers,  1  was  still  in  disgrace,  and  was  always  disliked  by  ,the 
oldsters  in  my  own  mess  ;  with  the  younger  midshipmen  and 
the  foremast  men  I  was  a  favourite.  I  was  too  proud  to  be  a 
tyrant,  and  the  same  feeling  prevented  my  submitting  to 
tyranny.  As  I  increased  in  strength  and  stature,  I  showed 
more  determined  resistance  to  arbitrary  power  :  an  occasional 
turnup  with  boys  of  my  own  size  (for  the  best  friends  will 
quarrel),  and  the  supernumerary  midshipmen  sent  on  board  for 
a  passage,  generally  ended  in  establishing  my  dominion  or 
ensuring  for  me  a  peaceable  neutrality. 

I  became  a  scientific  pugilist,  and  now  and  then  took  a  brush 
with  an  oldster  ;  and  although  overpowered,  yet  I  displayed  so 
much  prowess,  that  my  enemies  became  cautious  how  they 
renewed  a  struggle,  which  they  perceived  became  daily  more 


CG  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

ui'dudus  ;  till  at  last,  like  the  liou's  wbelp,  my  play  ceased  to  be 
a  joke,  and  I  was  left  to  enjoy  that  tranquillity,  \<'hich  few  found 
it  safe  or  convenient  to  disturb.  By  degrees  the  balance  of 
power  was  fairly  established,  and  even  Murphy  was  awed  into 
civil  silence. 

In  addition  to  my  well-known  increase  in  personal  strength, 
I  acquired  a  still  greater  superiority  over  my  companions  by 
the  advantage  of  education  ;  and  this  I  took  great  care  to 
make  them  feel  on  every  occasion.  I  was  appealed  to  in  all 
cases  of  literary  disputation,  and  was,  by  general  consent, 
the  umpu'e  of  the  steerage.  I  was  termed  "  good  company," — ^ 
not  always  to  the  advantage  of  the  possessor  of  such  a  talent ; 
for  it  often  tends,  as  it  did  with  me,  to  lead  into  very  bad 
company.  I  had  a  fine  voice,  and  played  on  one  or  two  instru- 
ments. This  frequently  procured  me  invitations  to  the  gun- 
room, and  excuses  from  duty,  together  with  more  wine  or  grog 
than  was  of  service  to  me,  and  conversation  that  I  had  better 
not  have  heard. 

We  were  ordered  on  a  cruise  to  the  coast  of  France  ;  and  as 
the  junior  port-admiral  had  a  spite  against  our  captain,  he 

swore  by that  go  we  should,  ready  or  not  ready.     Our 

signal  was  made  to  weigh,  while  lighters  of  provisions,  and  the 
powder-hoy  with  our  powder,  were  lying  alongside — the  quarter- 
deck guns  all  adrift,  and  not  even  mounted.  Gun  after  gun, 
from  the  Royal  William,  was  repeated  by  the  Gladiator,  the 
flag-ship  of  the  harbour-admiral,  and  with  our  signal  to  part 
company. 

The  captain,  not  knowing  how  the  story  might  travel  up  by 
telegraph  to  London,  and  conscious,  perhaps,  that  he  had  left 
a  little  too  much  to  the  first-lieutenant,  "  tore  the  ship  away  by 
the  hair  of  the  head" — unmoored,  bundled  every  thing  in  upon 
deck  out  of  the  lighters — turned  all  the  women  out  of  the  ship, 
except  five  or  six  of  the  most  abandoned — and,  with  a  strong 
northerly  wind,  ran  down  the  Yarniouth  roads,  and  through  the 
Needles  to  sea,  in  a  stateof  confusion  and  disaster  which  I  hope 
never  to  see  again. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  61 

The  rear-admiral,  Sir  Hurricane  Humbug,  stood  on  the  plat- 
form lookiug  at  us  (I  was  afterwards  told),  aud  was  heard 
to  exclaim,  "D — n  his  eyes  (meaning  our  captain),  chere  he 
goes  at  last  1  I  was  afraid  that  that  fellow  would  have 
grounded  on  his  beef  bones  before  we  should  have  got  him 
out  !" 

"  The  more  haste,  the  less  speed,"  is  oftener  true  in  naval 
afi'airs  than  in  any  other  situation  of  life.  With  us  it  had 
nearly  proved  fatal  to  the  ship.  Had  we  met  with  an  enemy, 
we  must  either  have  disgraced  the  flag  by  running  away,  or 
been  taken. 

^"o  sooner  clear  of  the  Xeedles  than  night  came  on,  and  with 
it  a  heavy  gale  of  wind  at  north-north-west.  The  officers  aud 
men  were  all  at  work  till  four  in  the  morning  securing  the 
boats,  booms,  and  anchors,  clearing  the  decks  of  provisions,  aud 
setting  up  the  lower  rigging,  which  by  the  labour  of  the  ship 
had  begun  to  stretch  to  an  alarming  degree  ;  by  great  exertion 
this  was  accomplished,  and  the  guns  secured  before  the  gale 
had  mcreased  to  a  hurricane. 

About  nine  the  next  morning  a  poor  marine,  a  recruit  from 
Portsmouth,  unfortunately  fell  overboard  ;  and  though  many 
brave  fellows  instantly  jumped  into  one  of  the  quarter-boats, 
and  begged  to  be  lowered  down  to  save  him,  the  captain, 
who  was  a  cool  calculator,  thought  the  chance  of  losing  seven 
men  was  greater  than  that  of  saving  one,  so  the  poor  fellow 
was  left  to  his  fate.  The  ship,  it  is  true,  was  hove  to  ;  but 
she  drifted  to  leeward  much  faster  than  the  unfortunate  man 
could  swim,  though  he  was  one  of  the  best  swimmers  I  ever 
beheld. 

It  was  heart-breaking  to  see  the  manly  but  ineffectual  exer- 
tions made  by  this  gallant  youth  to  regain  the  ship  ;  but  all  his 
powers  only  served  to  prolong  his  misery.  We  saw  him  nearly 
a  mile  to  windward,  at  one  moment  riding  on  the  top  of  the 
mountainous  wave,  at  the  next  sinking  into  the  deep  valley 
between,  till  at  last  we  saw  him  no  more  1  His  sad  fate  was 
loiig  deplored  in  the  ship.     I  thought  at  the  time  that  the  cap- 

3* 


58  FRANK   MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

tain  was  cruel  iu  not  sending  a  boat  for  him  ;  )nit  T  am  now 
convinced,  from  experience,  that  he  submitted  only  to  hard 
necessity,  and  chose  the  lesser  evil  of  the  two. 

The  fate  of  this  young  man  was  a  serious  warning  to  me.  I 
had  become,  from  habit,  so  extremely  active,  and  so  fond  of 
displaying  my  newly-acquu'ed  gymnastics,  called  by  the  sailors 
"  sky-larking,"  that  my  speedy  exit  was  often  prognosticated  by 
the  old  quarter-masters,  and  even  by  the  ofiicers.  It  was 
clearly  understood  that  I  was  either  to  be  drowned,  or  was  to 
break  my  neck  ;  for  the  latter  I  took  my  chance  pretty  fairly, 
going  up  and  down  the  rigging  like  a  monkey.  Few  of  the  top- 
men  could  equal  me  in  speed,  still  fewer  surpass  me  in  feats  of 
daring  activity.  I  could  run  along  the  topsail  yards  out  to  the 
yard-arm,  go  from  one  mast  to  the  other  by  the  stays,  or 
down  on  deck  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye  by  the  topsail  halyards; 
and,  as  I  knew  myself  to  be  an  expert  swimmer,  I  cared  little 
about  the  chance  of  being  drowned  ;  but  when  I  witnessed  the 
fate  of  the  poor  marine,  who  I  saw  could  swim  as  well,  if  not  bet- 
ter, than  myself,  I  became  much  more  cautious.  I  perceived  that 
there  might  be  situations  in  which  swimming  could  be  of  no  use ; 
and,  however  beloved  I  might  have  been  by  the  sailors,  it  was 
evident  that,  even  if  they  had  the  inclination,  they  might  not 
always  have  the  power  to  relieve  me  :  from  this  time  I  became 
much  more  guarded  in  my  movements  aloft. 

A  circumstance  occurred  shortly  after  we  got  to  sea  which 
afforded  me  infinite  satisfaction.  Murphy,  whose  disposition  led 
him  to  bully  every  one  whom  he  thought  he  could  master,  fixed 
a  quarrel  on  a  very  quiet,  gentlemanly  young  man,  a  super- 
numerary midshipman,  who  had  come  on  board  for  a  passage  to 
his  own  ship,  then  down  iu  the  Bay  of  Biscay.  The  young  man, 
resenting  this  improper  behaviour,  challenged  ^Murphy  to  fight, 
and  the  challenge  was  accepted  ;  but  as  the  supernumerary  was 
engaged  to  dine  with  the  captain,  he  proposed  that  the  meeting- 
should  not  take  place  till  after  dinner,  not  wishing  to  exhibit  a 
black  eye  at  the  captain's  table.  This  was  considered  by  Mur- 
phy us  an  evasion  ;  and  he  added  farther  iii,sii)l,  l)y  saying  that 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  59 

lie  supposed  his  antagonist  wanted  Dutcli  courage,  and  that  if 
lie  did  not  get  wine  enough  in  the  cabin  he  would  not  light 
at  all. 

The  high-spirited  youth  made  no  reply  to  this  insolence;  but, 
having  dressed  himself,  went  up  to  dinner  ;  that  over,  and  after 
the  muster  at  quarters,  he  called  Mr.  Murphy  into  the  steerage, 
and  gave  him  as  sound  a  drubbing  as  he  ever  received  in  his 
life.  The  fight,  or  set-to,  lasted  only  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and 
the  young  supernumerary  displayed  so  much  science,  and  such  a 
thorough  use  of  his  fists,  as  to  defy  the  brutal  force  of  his  oppo- 
nent, who  could  not  touch  him,  and  who  was  glad  to  retreat  to 
his  berth,  followed  by  the  groans  and  hisses  of  all  the  midship- 
men, in  which  I  most  cordially  joined. 

After  so  clear  a  proof  of  the  advantages  of  the  science  of  self- 
defence,  I  determined  to  acquire  it  ;  and  with  the  young 
stranger  for  my  tutor,  I  soon  became  a  proficient  in  the  art  of 
boxing,  and  able  to  cope  with  Murphy  and  his  supporters. 

There  was  a  part  of  my  duty  which,  I  am  free  to  confess,  1 
hated  ;  this  was  keeping  watch  at  night.  I  loved  sleep,  and, 
after  ten  o'clock,  I  could  not  keep  my  eyes  open.  Neither  the 
buckets  of  water  which  were  so  liberally  poured  over  me  by  the 
midshipmen,  under  the  facetious  appellation  of  "  blowing  the 
grampus,"  nor  any  expostulations  or  punishments  inflicted  on 
me  by  the  first-lieutenant,  could  rouse  my  dormaiU  energies 
after  the  first  half  of  the  watch  was  expired.  I  was  one  of  the 
most  determined  votaries  of  Somuus,  and  for  his  sake  endured 
every  sort  of  persecution.  The  first-heutenant  took  me  into  his 
watch,  and  tried  every  means,  both  of  mUdness  and  coercion,  to 
In-eak  me  from  tliis  evil  habit.  1  was  sure,  however,  to  escape 
from  him,  and  to  conceal  myself  in  some  hole  or  corner,  where 
I  slept  out  the  remainder  of  the  watch  ;  and  the  next  morumg, 
I  was  as  regularly  mast-headed  ta  do  penance  dm-ing  the 
greater  part  of  the  day  for  my  deeds  of  darkness.  I  believe 
that  of  the  first  two  years  of  my  servitude,  one-half  of  my 
waking  hours,  at  least,  were  passed  aloft. 

I  took  care,  however,  to  provide  myself  with  books,  and  on 


60  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

the  whole,  was  perhaps  better  employed  than  I  should  have 
been  in  my  berth  below.  Handstone,  though  a  martinet,  was  a 
geutlemau,  and  as  he  felt  a  great  interest  in  the  young  officers 
in  the  ship,  so  he  took  much  pains  in  the  instruction  and 
improvement  of  them.  He  frequently  expostulated  with  me  on 
the  great  impropriety  of  my  conduct  ;  my  answer  invariably 
was,  that  I  was  as  sensible  of  it  as  he  could  be,  but  that  I  could 
not  helj)  it  ;  that  I  deserved  all  the  punishment  I  met  with,  and 
threw  myself  entirely  on  his  mercy.  He  used  frequently  to  call 
me  over  to  the  weather  side  of  the  deck,  when  he  would  con- 
verse with  me  on  any  topic  which  he  thought  might  interest  or 
amuse  me.  Finding  I  was  tolerably  well  read  in  history,  he 
asked  my  opinion,  and  gave  me  his  own  with  great  good  sense 
and  judgment  ;  but  such  was  the  irresistible  weight  of  my  eye- 
lids, that  I  used,  when  he  was  in  the  midst  of  a  loug  disserta- 
tion, to  slip  down  the  gangway  ladder  and  leave  him  to  finish 
his  discourses  to  the  wind. 

Now,  when  this  occm'red,  I  was  more  severely  punished  than 
on  any  other  occasion  ;  for,  to  the  neglect  of  duty,  I  added 
contempt  both  of  his  rank  and  the  instruction  he  was  offering 
to  me.  His  ^'ath  was  also  considerably  increased  when  he 
only  discovered  my  departure  by  the  tittering  of  the  other  mid- 
shipmen and  the  quarter-master  at  the  conn. 

One  evening,  I  completed  my  disgrace  with  him,  thougji  a 
great  deal  might  be  said  in  my  own  favour.  He  had  sent  me 
to  the  fore-top-mast  head,  at  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and 
very  unfeelingly,  or  forgetfully,  kept  me  there  the  whole  day. 

When  he  went  off  deck  to  his  dinner,  I  came  down  into  the 
top,  made  a  bed  for  myself  in  one  of  the  top-gallant  studding- 
sails,  and,  desiring  the  man  who  had  the  look-out  to  call  me 
before  the  lieutenant  was  likely  to  come  on  deck,  I  very  quietly 
began  to  prepare  a  sacrifice  to  my  favourite  deity,  Sonmus  : 
but  as  the  look-out  man  did  not  see  the  lieutenant  come  up,  I 
was  caught  napping  just  at  dus[<,  wJien  tlic  lieutenant  came  on 
deck,  and  did  me  the  honour  to  remember  wiiere  he  had  left 
me.     Looking  at  the  fore-top-mast  head,  he  called  me  down 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  61 

Like  Miltou's  devils,  who  were  "  found  sleeping  by  oue  they 
dread,"  up  I  sprang,  and  regained  my  perch  by  the  top-sail-tie, 
supposing,  or  rather  hoping  that  he  would  not  see  me  before 
the  mast,  in  the  obscurity  of  the  evening  :  but  he  was  lynx- 
eyed,  and  had  not  presence  of  mind  enough  not  to  see  what  he 
should  not  have  seen.  He  called  to  the  three  men  in  the  top, 
and  inquu-ed  where  I  was  ?  They  replied  at  the  mast-head. 
"  What !"  exclaimed  Haudstone,  with  an  oath,  "  did  I  not  see 
him,  this  moment,  go  up  by  the  topsail-tie  ?" 

"  No,  su',"  said  the  men  ;  "  he  is  now  asleep  at  the  mast- 
head." 

"  Come  down  here,  you  lying  rascals,  every  one  of  you,"  said 
the  heutcnant,  "  and  I'll  teach  you  to  speak  the  truth  !" 

I,  who  had  by  this  time  quietly  resumed  my  station,  was 
ordered  down  along  with  them  ;  and  we  all  four  stood  on  the 
quarter-deck,  while  the  following  interrogations  were  put  to 
us  : — 

"  Now,  sir,"  said  the  first-lieutenant,  to  the  captain  of  the, 
top,  "  how  dare  you  tell  me  that  that  young  gentleman  was  at 
the  mast-head,  when  I  myself  saw  him  '  shinning '  up  the  top- 
sail-tie ?" 

I  was  sorry  for  the  men  who,  to  save  me,  had  got  themselves 
into  jeopardy  and  I  was  just  going  to  declare  the  truth,  and 
take  the  whole  odium  upon  myself,  when,  to  my  utter  astonish- 
ment, the  man  boldly  answered,  "  He  was  at  the  mast-head, 
sir,  upon  my  honour." 

"  Your  honour  !"  cried  the  lieutenant  with  contempt  :  then, 
turning  to  the  other  men,  he  put  the  same  question  to  them 
both  in  succession,  and  received  the  same  positive  answers  ;  so 
that  I  really  began  to  think  I  had  been  at  the  mast-head  all 
the  time,  and  had  been  dreaming  I  was  in  the  top.  At  last, 
turning  to  me,  he  said,  "  Now,  sir,  I  ask  you,  on  your  honour, 
as  an  officer  and  a  gentleman,  where  were  you  when  I  first 
hailed  ?" 

"  At  the  the  mast-head,  su*,"  said  I. 

"  Be  it  so,"  he  replied  :  "  as  you  are  an  ofiioer  and  a  gentle- 


62  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

man,  1  am  bound  to  believe  you."  Then  turning  on  bis  heel, 
he  walked  away  in  a  greater  rage  than  I  ever  remember  to 
have  seen  him. 

"  I  plainly  perceived  that  I  was  not  believed,  and  that  I  had 
lost  his  good  opinion.  Yet,  to  consider  the  case  fairly  and 
impartially,  how  could  I  have  acted  otherwise  ?  I  had  been 
much  too  long  confined  to  the  mast-head — as  long  as  a  man 
might  take  to  go  from  London  to  Bath  in  a  stage  coach  ;  I 
had  lost  all  my  meals  ;  and  these  poor  fellows,  to  save  me  from 
farther  punishment,  had  voluntarily  exposed  themselves  to  a 
flogging  at  the  gangway  by  telling  a  barefaced  falsehood  in  my 
defence.  Had  I  not  supported  them,  they  would  certainly  have 
been  flogged,  and  I  should  have  lost  myself  with  every  person 
aboard.  I  therefore  came  to  that  paradoxical  conclusion  on  the 
spot,  namely,  that  as  a  man  of  honour  and  a  gentleman,  I  was 
bound  to  tell  a  lie  in  order  to  save  those  poor  men  from  a  cruel 
punishment. 

I  am  sensible  that  this  is  a  case  to  lay  before  the  bench  of 
bishops,  and  though  I  never  pretended  to  the  constancy  of  a 
martyr,  had  the  consequences  been  on  myself  alone,  I  should 
have  had  no  hesitation  in  speaking  the  truth.  The  lieutenant 
was  to  blame,  first,  by  too  great  a  severity  ;  and  secondly,  by 
too  rigid  an  inquiry  into  a  subject  not  worth  the  trouble.  StUl 
my  conscience  smote  me  that  I  had  done  wrong;  and  when  the 
rage  of  the  lieutenant  had  abated,  so  as  to  ensure  the  impunity 
of  the  men,  I  took  the  earliest  opportunity  of  explaining  to  him 
the  motives  for  my  conduct,  and  the  painful  situation  in  which 
I  stood.  He  received  my  excuses  coldly,  and  we  never  were 
friends  again. 

Our  captain,  who  was  a  dashing  sort  of  a  fellow,  contrived 
to  brush  up  the  enemy's  quarters,  ou  tlie  coast  of  France.  On 
one  of  our  boat-expeditions,  I  contrived  to  slip  away  with  the 
rest ;  we  landed,  and  surprised  a  battery,  which  we  blew  up, 
and  spiked  the  guns.  The  French  soldiers  ran  for  their  lives, 
and  we  plundered  the  huts  of  some  poor  fishermen.  I  went  in 
witli  the  rest,  in  liopes  of  finding  plunder,  and  for  my  deserts 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  63 

caught  a  Tartar.  A  large  skait  lay  with  its  mouth  open,  into 
which  I  thrust  my  fore-finger,  to  drag  him  away  ;  the  animal 
was  not  dead,  and  closing  his  jaws,  divided  my  finger  to  the 
bone — this  was  the  only  blood  spilt  on  the  occasion. 

Though  guilty  myself,  I  was  sorry  to  see  the  love  of  plunder 
prevail  so  extensively  among  us.  The  sailors  took  away  articles 
utterly  useless  to  them  ;  and,  after  carrying  them  a  certain 
distance,  threw  them  down  for  others  equally  useless.  I  have 
since  often  reflected  how  justly  I  was  punished  for  my  fault,  and 
how  needlessly  we  inflicted  the  horrors  of  war  on  those  inoffen- 
sive and  unhappy  creatures.  , 

Our  next  attempt  was  of  a  more  serious  nature,  and  produc- 
tive of  still  greater  calamity  to  the  unoffendmg  and  industrious, 
the  usual  victims  of  war,  while  the  instigators  are  reposing  in 
safety  on  their  down  beds. 


CHAPTER    V. 

My  life  is  spann'd  already ; 

Go  with  me,  like  good  angels,  to  my  end. 

Henry  VIII. 

Danger,  like  an  ague,  subtly  taints 
Even  then  when  we  sit  idly  in  the  sun. 

Troilus  ahd  Crbssioa. 

I  Han  never  been  able  to  rcjiain  the  confidence  and  esteem  of 
the  first-lieutenant  since  the  unfortunate  affair  of  the  mast-head. 
He  was  certainly  an  excellent  and  a  correct  officer,  too  much 
so  to  overlook  what  he  considered  a  breach  of  honour.  I,  there- 
fore, easily  reconciled  myself  to  a  separation,  which  occurred 
very  soon  after.  We  chased  a  ship  into  the  Bay  of  Arcasson, 
when,  as  was  customary,  she  sought  safety  under  a  battery;  and 
the  captain,  according  to  our  custom,  resolved  to  cut  her  out. 
For  this  purpose,  the  boats  were  manned  and  armed,  and 


64  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

every  preparation  made  for  the  attack  on  the  following  morn- 
ing. The  command  of  the  expedition  was  given  to  the  first- 
lieutenant,  who  accepted  it  with  cheerfulness,  and  retired  to  his 
bed  in  high  spirits  with  the  anticipation  of  the  honour  and 
profit  which  the  dawn  of  day  would  heap  upon  him.  He  was 
proverbially  brave  and  cool  in  action,  so  that  the  seamen  fol- 
lowed him  with  confidence,  as  to  certain  victory.  Whether  any 
ill-omened  dreams  had  disturbed  his  rest,  or  whether  any  reflec- 
tions on  the  difficult  and  dangerous  nature  of  the  service  had 
alarmed  him,  I  could  not  tell ;  but  in  the  morning  we  all 
observed  a  remarkable  change  in  his  deportment.  His  ardour 
was  gone  ;  he  walked  the  deck  with  a  slow  and  measured  pace, 
apparently  in  deep  thought  ;  and,  contrary  to  his  usual  manner, 
was  silent  and  melancholy,  abstracted,  and  inattentive  to  the 
duties  of  the  ship. 

The  boats  prepared  for  the  service  were  manned;  the  officers 
had  taken  their  seats  in  them  ;  the  oars  were  tossed  up  ;  the 
eyes  of  the  young  warriors  beamed  with  animation,  and  we 
waited  for  Mr.  Handstone,  who  still  walked  the  deck,  absorbed 
in  his  own  reflections.  He  was  at  length  recalled  to  a  sense  of 
his  situation  by  the  captain,  who  in  a  tone  of  voice  more  than 
usually  loud,  asked  him  if  he  intended  to  take  the  command  of 
the  expedition  ?  He  replied  "  Most  certainly  ;"  and  with  a 
firm  and  animated  step,  crossed  the  quarter-deck,  and  went,  into 
his  boat. 

I,  following,  seated  myself  by  his  side;  he  looked  at  me  with 
a  foreboding  indifference  :  had  he  been  iu  his  usual  mood,  he 
would  have  sent  me  to  some  other  boat.  We  had  a  long  pull 
bcfoi'e  we  I'cached  the  object  of  our  intended  attack,  which  we 
found  moored  close  in  shore,  and  well  prepared  for  us.  A 
broadside  of  grape-shot  was  the  first  salute  we  received.  It 
produced  the  same  effect  on  our  men  as  the  spur  to  a  fiery 
steed.  •  We  pulled  alongside,  and  began  to  scramble  up  in  the 
best  manner  we  could.  Handstone  in  an  instant  regained  all 
his  wonted  animation,  clieered  his  men,  and  with  his  drawn 
sword  in  liis  hand,  mounted  the  ship's  side,  while  our  men  at  the 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  65 

same  time  poured  in  volleys  of  musketry,  and  then  followed 
their  Intrepid  leader. 

lu  our  boat,  the  first  alongside,  eleven  men  out  of  twenty- 
four,  lay  killed  or  disabled.  Disregarding  these,  the  lieutenant 
sprang  up.  I  I'ollowed  close  to  hhu  ;  he  leaped  from  the  bul- 
wark in  ui)on  her  deck,  and,  before  I  could  lift  my  cutlass  in 
his  defence,  fell  back  upon  me,  knocked  me  down  in  his  fall, 
and  expired  in  a  moment.  He  had  tlnrteen  musket-balls  in  his 
chest  and  stomach. 

I  had  no  time  to  disengage  myself  before  I  was  trampled  on, 
and  nearly  suffocated  by  the  pressure  of  my  shipmates,  who, 
burning  to  gain  the  prize,  or  to  avenge  our  fall,  rushed  on  with 
the  most  undaunted  bravery.  I  was  supposed  to  be  dead,  and 
treated  accordingly,  my  poor  body  being  only  used  as  a  stop 
for  the  gangway,  where  the  ladder  was  unshipped.  There  I  lay 
fainting  with  the  pressure,  and  nearly  suffocated  with  the  blood 
of  my  brave  leader,  on  whose  breast  my  face  rested,  with  my 
hands  across  over  the  back  of  my  head  to  save  ray  skull,  if  pos- 
sible, from  the  heels  of  my  friends,  and  the  swords  of  ray  ene- 
mies; and  while  reason  held  her  seat,  I  could  not  help  thinking 
that  I  was  just  a-;  well  where  I  was,  and  that  a  change  of  posi- 
tion might  not  be  for  the  better. 

About  eight  minutes  decided  the  affair,  though  it  certainly 
did  seem  to  me,  in  my  then  unpleasant  situation,  much  longer. 
Before  it  was  over  I  had  fainted,  and  before  I  regained  my 
senses  the  vessel  was  under  weigh,  and  out  of  gun-shot  from  the 
batteries. 

The  first  moments  of  respite  from  carnage  were  "employed  in 
examining  the  bodies  of  the  killed  and  wounded.  I  was  num- 
bered among  the  former,  and  stretched  out  between  the  guns 
by  the  side  of  the  first-lieutenant  and  the  other  dead  bodies. 
A  fresh  breeze  blowing  through  the  ports  revived  me  a  Uttle, 
but,  faint  and  sick,  I  had  neither  the  power  or  inclination  to 
move  ;  my  brain  was  confused  :  I  had  no  recollection  of  what 
had  happened,  and  continued  to  lie  in  a  sort  of  stupor,  until 
the  prize  came  alongside  of  the  frigate,  and  I  was  roused  by  the 


66  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

cheers  of  congratulation  and  victory  from  those  who  had 
remained  on  board. 

A  boat  instantly  brought  the  surgeon  and  his  assistants  to 
inspect  the  dead  and  assist  the  living.  Murphy  came  along  with 
them.  He  had  not  been  of  the  boarding  party  ;  and  seeing 
my  supposed  lifeless  corpse,  he  gave  it  a  slight  kick,  saying  at 
the  same  time,  "  Here  is  a  young  cock  that  has  done  crowing  ! 
Well,  for  a  wonder,  this  chap  has  cheated  the  gallows." 

The  sound  of  the  fellow's  detested  voice  was  enough  to  recall 
me  from  the  grave,  if  my  orders  had  been  signed.  I  faintly 
exclaimed,  "  You  are  a  liar  1"  which,  even  with  all  the  melan- 
choly scene  around  us,  produced  a  burst  of  laughter  at  his 
expense.  I  was  removed  to  the  ship,  put  to  bed,  and  bled,  and 
was  soon  able  to  narrate  the  particulars  of  my  adventure  ;  but 
I  continued  a  long  while  dangerously  ill. 

The  soliloquy  of  Murphy  over  my  supposed  dead  body,  and 
my  laconic  reply  were  the  cause  of  much  merriment  in  the  ship ; 
the  midshipmen  annoyed  him  by  asserting  that  he  had  saved 
my  life,  as  nothing  but  his  hated  voice  could  have  awoke  me 
from  my  sleep  of  death. 

The  fate  of  the  first-lieutenant  was  justly  deplored  by  all  of 
us  ;  though  I  cannot  deny  my  Christian-like  acquiescence  in 
the  will  of  Providence  in  this,  as  well  as  on  a  former  occasion, 
when  the  witnesses  of  my  weakness  had  been  removed  for  ever 
out  of  my  way.  As  I  saw  it  was  impossible  to  regain  his  good 
opinion,  I  thought  it  was  quite  as  well  that  we  should  part 
company.  That  he  had  a  strong  presentiment  of  his  death  was 
pi'oved ;  and  though  I  had  often  heard  these  instances  asserted, 
I  never  before  had  it  so  clearly  brought  home  to  my  senses. 

The  prize  was  called  L'Aimable  Julie,  laden  with  coffee,  cot- 
ton, and  indigo  ;  mounted  fourteen  guns  ;  had,  at  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action,  forty-seven  meu,  of  whom  eight  were 
killed,  and  sixteen  wounded.  Tlie  period  of  our  return  into 
port,  according  to  our  orders,  happened  to  coincide  with  this 
piece  of  good  fortune,  and  we  came  up  to  Spithead,  where  our 
captain  met  with  a  hearty  welcome  from  the  admiral. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  6t 

Having  delivered  his  "  butcher's  bill,"  i.  e.  the  list  of  killed 
aud  wounded,  together  with  an  accouut  of  our  defects,  they 
were  seut  up  to  the  admiralty ;  and  by  return  of  post,  we  were 
ordered  to  fit  foreign:  and  alihongh  no  one  on  board,  not  even 
the  captain,  was  supposed  to  know  our  destination,  the  girls  on 
the  Point  assured  us  it  was  the  Mediterranean  ;  and  this 
turned  out  to  be  the  fact.  • 

A  few  days  only  were  spent  in  hurried  preparation,  during 
whicli  I  continued  to  write  to  my  father  and  mother.  In 
return  I  received  all  I  required,  which  w'as  a  remittance  in  cash. 
This  I  duly  acknowledged  by  a  few  lines  as  the  ship  was  un- 
mooring. We  sailed,  aud  soon  after  arrived  without  accident 
at  Gibraltar,  where  we  found  general  orders  for  any  ship  that 
might  arrive  from  England  to  proceed  and  join  the  admiral  at 
Malta.  In  a  few  hours  our  provisions  and  water  were  com- 
plete ;  but  we  were  not  in  so  much  haste  to  arrive  at  Malta 
as  we  were  to  quit  Gibraltar — hugging  the  Spanish  coast,  in 
hopes  of  picking  up  something  to  ensure  us  as  hearty  a  wel- 
come at  Yaletta  as  on  our  last  return  to  Portsmouth. 

Early  on  the  second  morning  of  our  departure  we  made  Cape 
de  Gaete.  As  the  day  dawned  we  discovered  four  sail  in  the 
wind's  eye,  and  close  in  shore.  The  wind  was  light,  and  all  sail 
w^as  made  in  chase.  We  gained  very  Uttle  on  them  for  many 
hours,  and  towards  evening  it  fell  calm.  The  boats  were  then 
ordered  to  pursue  them,  and  we  set  ofl",  diverging  a  little  from 
each  other's  course,  or  as  the  French  would  say,  deployee,  to  give 
a  better  chance  of  faUing  in  with  them.  I  was  in  the  gig  with 
the  master,  and  that  being  the  best  running  boat,  we  soon 
came  up  with  one  of  the  feluccas.  We  fired  musketry  at  her  ; 
but,  having  a  ligljt  breeze,  she  would  not  bring  to.  We  then 
took  good  aim  at  the  helmsman,  and  hit  him.  The  man  only 
shifted  the  helm  from  his  right  hand  to  his  left,  and  kept  on 
his  course.  We  still  kept  firing  at  this  intrepid  fellow,  and  I 
felt  it  was  like  wilful  murder,  since  he  made  no  resistance,  but 
steadily  endeavoured  to  escape. 

At  length  we  got  close  under  the  stern,  and  hooked  on  with 


68  FRANK    MII.DMAY  ;    OR, 

our  boat-hook.  This  the.Spauiards  unhooked,  aud  we  dropped 
astern,  having  hxid  our  oars  in  ;  but  the  breeze  dying  entirely 
away,  we  again  pulled  alongside,  and  took  possession.  The 
poor  man  was  still  at  the  helm,  bleeding  profusely.  We  offered 
him  every  assistance,  and  asked,  him  why  he  did  not  surrender 
sooner.  He  replied  that  he  was  an  old  Oastilian.  Whether  he 
meant  that*  an  earlier  surrender  would  have  disgraced  him,  or 
that  he  contemplated,  from  his  former  experience,  a  chance  of 
escape  to  tlie  last  moment,  I  cannot  tell.  Certain  it  is  that  no 
one  ever  behaved  better  ;  aud  I  felt  that  I  would  have  given 
all  I  possessed  to  have  healed  the  wounds  of  this  patient,  meek, 
and  undaunted  old  man,  who  uttered  no  complaint,  but  sub- 
mitted to  his  fate  with  a  magnanimity  which  would  have  done 
credit  to  Socrates  himself.  He  had  received  four  musket-balls 
in  his  body,  and,  of  course,  survived  his  capture  but  a  very  few 
hours. 

We  found,  to  our  surprise,  that  this  vessel,  with  the  three 
others,  one  of  which  was  taken  by  another  of  our  boats,  were 
from  Lima.  They  were  single-masted,  about  thirty  tons  burden, 
twelve  men  each,  and  were  laden  with  copper,  hides,  wax,  and 
cochineal,  and  had  been  out  five  mouths.  They  were  bou)id  to 
Valencia,  from  which  they  were  only  one  day's  sail  when  we  in- 
tercepted them.  Such  is  the  fortune  of  war  1  This  gallant 
man,  after  a  voyage  of  incredible  labour  aud  difficulty,  would, 
in  a  few  hours,  have  embraced  his  family,  and  gladdened  their 
hearts  with  the  produce  of  honest  industry  aud  successful  enter- 
prise ;  when,  in  a  moment,  all  their  hopes  were  blasted  by  our 
legal  murder  and  robbery  ;  and  our  prize-money  came  to  our 
pockets  with  the  tears,  if  not  the  curses,  of  the  widow  and  the 
orphan. 

From  some  information  which  the  captain  obtained  iu  the 
prize,  he  was  induced  to  stand  over  towards  the  Balearic  Islands. 
We  made  Ivica,  and  stood  past  it :  then  ran  for  Palma  Bay,  in 
the  island  of  Majorca  ;  here  we  found  nothing,  to  our  great  dis- 
appointment, and  continued  our  course  round  the  island. 

An  event  occurred  here  so  singular  as  scarcely  to  be  credible  ; 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  69 

but  the  fact  is  well  attested,,  as  there  were  others  who  witnessed 
it  beside  myself.  The  water  was  smooth,  and  the  day  remark- 
ably fine  ;  we  were  distant  from  the  shore  more  than  a  mile  and 
a  quarter,  when  the  captain,  wishing  to  try  the  range  of  the 
main-deck  guns,  which  were  long  eighteen  pounders,  ordered  the 
gunner  to  elevate  one  of  them,  and  fire  it  towards  the  land. 
The  gunner  asked  whether  he  should  point  the  gun  at  any  ob- 
ject. A  man  was  seen  walking  on  the  white  sandy  beach,  and 
as  there  did  not  appear  to  be  the  slightest  chance  of  hitting  him, 
for  he  only  looked  like  a  speck,  the  captain  desired  the  gunner 
to  fire  at  him  ;  he  did  so,  and  the  man  fell.  A  herd  of  bullocks 
at  this  moment  was  seen  coming  out  of  the  woods,  and  the  boats 
were  sent  with  a  party  to  shoot  some  of  them  for  the  ship's 
company. 

When  we  landed  we  found  that  the  ball  had  cut  the  poor 
man  in  two  ;  and  what  made  the  circumstance  more  particu- 
larly interesting  was,  that  he  was  evidently  a  man  of  couse- 
qiieuce.  He  was  well  dressed,  had  on  black  breeches  and  silk 
stockings  ;  he  was  reading  Ovid's  Metamorphoses,  and  still 
grasped  the  book,  which  I  took  out  of  his  hand. 

We  had  often  heard  of  the  miraculous  powers  ascribed  to  a 
chance  shot,  but  never  could  we  have  supposed  that  this  devilish 
ball  could  have  gone  so  far,  or  done  so  much  mischief.  We 
buried  the  remains  of  the  unfortunate  gentleman  in  the  sand, 
and  having  selected  two  or  three  bullocks  out  of  the  herd,  shot 
them,  skinned  and  divided  them  into  quarters,  loaded  our  boat, 
and  returned  on  board. 

I  had  taken  the  book  out  of  the  hand  of  the  deceased,  and 
from  his  neck  a  small  miniature  of  a  beautiful  female.  The 
brooch  in  his  shirt  I  also  brought  away  ;  and  when  I  gave  an 
account  to  the  captain  of  what  had  happened,  I  offered  him 
these  articles.  He  returned  them  all  to  me,  desired  me  to  keep 
them  until  I  could  see  any  of  the  friends  of  the  deceased,  and 
appeared  so  much  distressed  at  the  accident,  that  we  never 
mentioned  it  afterwards  ;  and  im  the  course  of  the  time  we  were 


TO  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

together,  it  was  nearly  forgotten.  The  articles  remained  in  my 
possession  unnoticed  for  many  years. 

Two  days  after,  we  fell  in  with  a  vessel  of  a  suspicious 
appearance  ;  and  it  being  calm,  the  boats  were  sent  in  chase. 
They  found  her  on  their  approach  to  be  a  xebeque,  under 
French  colours  ;  but  these  they  very  soon  hauled  down,  and 
showed  no  others.  As  we  came  within  hail,  they  told  us  to 
keep  off,  and  that  if  we  attempted  to  board  they  should  fire 
into  us.  This  was  not  a  threat  likely  to  deter  a  British  officer, 
and  particularly  such  fire-eaters  as  ours.  So  to  it  we  went,  and 
a  desperate  struggle  ensued,  the  numbers  being  nearly  equal  on 
both  sides  ;  but  they  had  the  advantage  of  their  own  deck  and 
bulwarks.  We  got  on  board,  however,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
gained  possession,  with  a  loss  on  our  side,  of  sixteen  ;  and  on 
that  of  our  opponents,  of  twenty-six,  killed  and  wounded. 

But  great  was  our  sorrow  and  disappointment  when  we  dis- 
covered that  we  had  shed  the  blood  of  -our  friends,  while  we 
had  lost  our  own.  The  vessel,  it  appeared,  was  a  Gibraltar 
privateer  ;  they  took  us  for  French,  our  boats  being  fitted  with 
tholes  and  grummets  for  the  oars,  in  the  French  fashion  ;  and 
we  supposed  them  to  be  French  from  their  colours  and  the  lan- 
guage in  which  they  hailed  us.  In  this  afi"air  we  had  three 
officers  killed  or  wounded,  and  some  of  our  best  men.  The  pri- 
vateer was  manned  with  a  mixed  crew  of  all  nations,  but  chiefly 
Greeks  ;  and  although  ostensibly  with  a  commission  signed  by 
the  governor  of  Gibraltar,  were  no  doubt  little  scrupulous  as  to 
the  colours  of  any  vessel  they  might  encounter,  provided  she 
was  not  too  strong  for  them. 

After  this  unfortunate  mistake  we  proceeded  to  Malta  :  the 
captain  expecting  a  severe  rebuke  from  his  admiral,  for  his 
rashness  in  sending  away  his  boats  to  attack  a  vessel  without 
knowing  her  force.  Fortunately  for  him  the  admiral  was  not 
there  ;  and  before  we  met  him,  the  number  of  prizes  we  had 
taken  were  found  sufficient  in  his  eyes  to  cover  our  multitude  of 
sins — so  the  affair  blew  over. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  Yl 

While  we  lay  in  Malta  harbour,  my  friend  Murphy  fell  over- 
board one  night,  just  after  all  the  boats  were  hoisted  in  : 
he  could  not  swim,  and  would  have  been  drowned  if  I  had  not 
jumped  overboard  and  held  him  up  until  a  boat  was  lowered 
down  to  our  assistance.  The  officers  and  ship's  company  gave 
rae  more  credit  for  this  action  than  I  really  deserved.  To  have 
saved  any  person  under  such  circumstances,  they  said,  was  a 
noble  deed  ;  but  to  risk  my  life  for  a  man  who  had  always, 
from  my  first  coming  into  the  ship,  been  my  bitterest  enemy, 
was  more  than  they  could  have  expected,  and  was  undouljtedly 
the  noblest  revenge  that  I  could  have  taken.  But  they  were 
deceived — they  knew  me  not ;  it  was  my  vanity,  and  the  desire 
of  oppressing  my  enemy  under  an  intolerable  weight  of  obliga- 
tion, that  induced  me  to  rush  to  his  rescue  ;  moreover,  as  I 
stood  on  the  gangway  witnessing  his  struggles  for  life,  I  felt 
that  I  was  about  to  lose  all  the  revenge  I  had  so  long  laid  up 
in  store  ;  in  short,  I  could  not  spare  him,  and  only  saved  him, 
as  a  cat  does  a  mouse,  to  torment  him. 

Murphy  acknowledged  his  obligations,  and  said  the  terrors 
of  death  were  upon  him  ;  but  in  a  few  days  forgot  all  I  had 
done  for  him,  consummated  his  own  disgrace,  and  raised  my 
character  on  the  ruins  of  his  own.  0;i  some  frivolous  occasion 
he  threw  a  basin  of  dirty  water  in  my  face  as  I  passed  through 
the  steerage  ;  this  was  too  good  an  opportunity  to  gratify  my 
darling  passion.  I  had  long  watched  for  an  occasion  to  quar- 
rel with  him  ;  but  as  he  had  been  ill  during  our  passage  from 
Gibraltar  to  Malta,  I  could  not  justify  any  act  of  aggression. 
He  had  now  recovered,  and  was  in  the  plenitude  of  his  strength, 
and  I  astonished  him  by  striking  the  first  blow. 

A  set-to  followed  ;  I  brought  up  all  my  scientific  powers  in 
aid  of  my  strength  and  the  memory  of  former  Injuries.  I  must 
do  him  the  justice  to  say  he  never  showed  more  game — but  he 
had  every  thing  to  contend  for  ;  if  I  was  beaten,  I  was  only 
where  I  was  before,  but  with  him  the  case  would  have  been  dif- 
ferent. A  fallen  tyrant  has  no  friends.  Stung  to  madness  by 
the  successful  hits  I  planted  in  hia  face,  he  lost  his  temper. 


72  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

while  I  was .  cool ;  he  fought  wildly,  I  stopped  all  his  blows, 
and  paid  thein  back  with  interest.  He  stood  forty-three 
rounds,  and  then  gave  in  with  his  eyes  bunged  up,  and  his  face 
so  swollen  and  so  covered  with  blood,  as  not  to  be  known  by 
his  friends,  if  he  had  any. 

I  had  hardly  a  mark  ;  most  of  our  midshipmen  were  absent 
in  prizes  ;  but  the  two  seniors  of  our  berth,  an  old  master's 
mate  past  promotion,  and  the  surgeon's  assistant,  who  had  held 
my  wrist  when  I  was  cobbed,  were  present  as  the  sui^porters  of 
Murphy  during  the  combat.  I  always  determined  whenever  I 
gained  a  battle  to  follow  it  up.  The  shouts  of  victory  re- 
sounded in  the  berth — the  youngsters  joined  with  me  in  songs 
of  triumph,  and  gave  great  offence  to  the  trio.  The  young 
Esculapius,  a  white-faced,  stupid,  pock-marked,  unhealthy  look- 
ing man,  was  fool  enough  to  say,  that  although  I  had  beaten 
Murphy,  I  was  not  to  suppose  myself  master  of  the  berth.  I 
replied  to  this  only  by  throwing  a  biscuit  at  his  head,  as  a  shot 
of  defiance,  and  darting  on  him  before  he  could  get  his  legs 
from  under  the  table,  I  thrust  my  fingers  into  his  neckcloth, 
which  I  twisted  so  tightly,  that  I  held  him  till  he  was  nearly 
choked,  giving  his  head  at  the  same  time  two  or  three  good 
thumps  against  the  ship's  side. 

Finding  that  he  grew  black  in  the  face,  I  let  him  go,  and 
asked  if  he  required  any  further  satisfaction,  to  which  he  replied 
in  tlie  negative,  and  from  that  day  he  was  always  dutiful  and 
obedient  to  me.  The  old  superannuated  mate,  a  sturdy  mer- 
chant seaman,  seemed  greatly  dismayed  at  the  successive  defeats 
of  his  allies,  and  I  beheve  would  have  gladly  concluded  a  sepa- 
rate peace.  He  had  never  oifered  to  come  to  the  assistance  of 
the  doctor,  although  appealed  to  in  the  most  pitiable  gestures. 

This  I  observed  with  secret  pleasure,  and  would  the  more  wil- 
lingly have  given  him  a  brush,  as  I  saw  he  was  disinclined  to 
make  the  attempt.  I  was,  however,  determined  to  be  at  the 
head  of  the  mess.  At  twelve  o'clock  that  night  I  was  relieved 
from  the  first  watch,  and  coming  down,  I  found  the  old  mate  in 
a  state  of  beastly  intoxication.     Thus  he  went  to  his  hammock, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  73 

and  fell  asleep.  "While  he  lay  "dormant,"  I  took  a  piece  of 
lunar  caustic,  which  I  wetted,  and  drew  stripes  and  figures  all 
over  his  weather-beaten  face,  increasing  his  natural  ugliness  to 
a  frightful  degree,  and  made  him  look  very  like  a  New  Zealand 
warrior.  The  next  morning,  when  he  was  making  his  toilet,  my 
party  were  all  ready  prepared  for  the  edairdssement.  He  opened 
his  little  dirty  chest,  and  having  strapped  an  old  razor,  and 
made  a  lather  in  a  wooden  soap-box,  which  bore  evident  marks 
of  the  antique,  he  placed  a  trianguhir  piece  of  a  looking-glass 
against  the  reclining  lid  of  the  chest,  and  began  the  operation 
of  shaving.  His  start  back  with  horror,  when  he  beheld  his 
face,  I  shall  never  forget  ;  it  outdid  the  young  Roscius,  when  he 
saw  the  ghost  of  Hamlet.  JBLaving  wetted  his  forefinger  with 
his  tongue,  the  old  mate  tried  to  remove  the  stain  of  the  caustic, 
but  the  "  d — d  spot"  still  remained,  and  we,  like  so  many  young 
imps,  surrounded  him,  roaring  with  laughter. 

I  boldly  told  him  that  he  bore  my  marks  as  well  as  Murphy 
and  the  doctor  ;  and  I  added,  with  a  degree  of  cruel  mockery 
which  might  have  been  spared,  that  I  thought  it  right  to  put 
all  my  servants  in  1)lack  to-day.  I  asked  whether  he  was  con- 
tented with  the  arrangement,  or  whether  he  chose  to  appeal 
against  my  decree  ;  he  signified  that  he  had  no  more  to  say. 

Thus,  in  twenty-four  hours,  I  had  subdued  the  great  allies 
who  had  so  long  opprei?sed  me.  I  immediately  effected  a  revo- 
lution ;  dismissed  the  doctor  from  the  office  of  caterer — took  the 
charge  on  myself,  and  administered  the  most  impartial  justice. 
I  made  the  oldsters  pay  their  mess,  which  they  had  not  correctly 
done  before  ;  I  caused  an  equal  distribution  of  all  luxuries, 
from  which  the  juniors  had  till  then  been  debarred  ;  and  I  flat- 
ter myself  I  restored,  in  some  degree,  the  golden  age  in  the 
cockpit.  There  were  no  more  battles,  for  there  was  no  hope  of 
victory  on  their  part,  nor  anything  to  contend  for  on  mine.  I 
never  took  any  advantage  of  my  strength,  farther  than  to  pro- 
tect the  youngsters.  I  proved  by  this  that  I  was  not  quarrel- 
some, but  had  only  struggled  for  my  own  emancipation — that 
gained,  I  was  satisfied.     My  conduct  was  explained  to  the  cap- 

4 


T4  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

tain  and  the  officers  ;  and  being  fully  and  fairly  discussed,  did 
me  great  service.  I  was  looked  upon  with  great  respect,  and 
treated  with  marks  of  confidence  not  usual  towards  a  person  so 
young. 

We  left  Malta  expecting  to  find  our  commander-in-chief  off 
Toulon  :  but  it  seldom  happens  that  the  captain  of  a  frigate  is 
in  any  hurry  to  join  his  admiral,  unless  charged  with  despatches 
of  importance.  This  not  being  our  case,  we  somehow  or  other 
tumbled  down  the  Mediterranean  before  a  strong  Levanter,  and 
then  had  to  work  back  again  along  the  coast  of  Spain  and  Prance, 
'it  is  an  ill  wind,  they  say,  that  blows  nobody  good  ;  and  we 
found  it  so  with  us  ;  for  oft"  Toulon,  in  company  with  the  fleet,  if 
we  did  take  prizes  they  became  of  little  value,  because  there  were 
so  many  to  share  them.  Our  captain,  who  was  a  man  of  the 
most  consummate  ruse  de  guerre  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of,  had  two 
reasons  for  sending  his  prizes  to  Gibraltar.  The  first  was,  that 
we  should,  in  all  probability,  be  sent  down  there  to  receive  our 
men,  aud  have  the  advantage  of  the  cruise  back  ;  the  second, 
that  he  was  well  aware  of  the  corrupt  practices  of  the  admiralty- 
court  at  Malta. 

All  the  vessels,  therefore,  which  we  had  hitherto  captm'ed, 
were  sent  to  Gibraltar  for  adjudication,  aud  we  now  added  to 
their  mimber.  We  had  the  good  fortune  t«  take  a  large  ship 
laden  with  barilla,  and  a  brig  with  tdljacco  and  wine.  The 
charge  of  the  last  I  was  honoured  with  ;  and  no  prune  minister 
ever  held  a  situation  of  such  heavy  responsibility  with  such  cor- 
rupt supporters.  So  much  was  the  crew  of  the  frigate  reduced 
by  former  captures  and  the  unlucky  affair  with  the  Maltese  pri- 
vateer, that  I  was  only  allowed  three  men.  I  was,  however,  so 
delighted  with  my  first  command,  that,  I  verily  believe,  if  they 
had  only  given  me  a  dog  and  a  pig,  I  should  have  been  sat- 
isfied. 

The  frigate's  boat  put  us  on  board.  It  blew  fresh  from  the 
eastward,  aud  I  instantly  put  the  helm  up,  and  shaped  my  course 
tor  the  old  rock.  The  breeze  soon  freshened  into  a  gale  :  we 
ran  slap  Ijcfore  it,  but  soon  found  it  necessary  to  take  in  the  top. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  75 

gallant  sails.  This  we  at  last  accomplished,  one  at  a  time.  We 
then  thought  a  reef  or  two  in  the  topsails  would  be  acceptable; 
but  that  was  impossible.  We  tried  a  Spanish  reef ;  that  is,  let 
the  yards  come  down  on  the  cap  :  and  she  flew  before  the  gale 
which  had  increased  to  a  very  serious  degree.  Our  cargo  of 
wine  and  tobacco  was,  unfortunately,  stowed  by  a  Spanish  and 
not  a  British  owner.  The  difference  was  very  material  to  me. 
An  Englishman,  knowing  the  vice  of  his  countrymen,  would  have 
placed  the  wine  underneath  and  the  tobacco  above.  Unfortu- 
nately it  was,  in  this  instance,  the  reverse,  and  my  men  very  soon 
helped  themselves  to  as  much  as  rendered  them  nearly  useless 
to  me,  being  more*  than  half  seas  over. 

We  got  on  pretty  well,  however,  till  about  two  o'clock  in  the 
morning,  when  the  man  at  the  helm,  unable  to  wake  the  other 
two  seamen  to  fetch  him  a  drop,  thought  he  might  trust  the  Ijrig 
to  steer  herself  for  a  minute,  while  he  quenched  his  thirst  at  the 
wiue-cask  :  the  vessel  instantly  broached  to,  that  is,  came  with 
her  broadside  to  the  wind  and  sea,  and  away  went  the  mainmast 
by  the  board.  Fortunately  the  foremast  stood.  The  man  who 
had  just  quitted  the  helm  had  not  time  to  get  drunk,  and  the 
other  two  were  so  much  frightened  that  they  got  sober. 

We  cleared  the  wreck  as  well  as  we  could,  got  her  before  the 
wind  again,  and  continued  on  our  course.  But  a  British  sailor, 
the  most  daring  of  all  men,  is  likewise  the  most  regardless  of 
warning  or  of  consequences.  The  loss  of  the  mainmast  instead 
of  showing  my  men  the  madness  of  their  indulgence  in  drink, 
turned  the  scale  the  opposite  way.  If  they  could  get  drunk  with 
two  masts,  how  much  more  could  they  do  so  with  one,  when  they 
had  only  half  as  much  sail  to  look  after  ?  With  such  a  rule  of 
three,  there  was  no  reasoning;  and  they  got  drunk,  and  con- 
tinued drunk  during  the  whole  passage. 

Good  luck  often  attends  us  when  we  don't  deserve  it : 

"  The  sweet  little  cherub  that  sits  up  aloft," 

as  Dibdin  says,  had  an  eye  upon  us.  I  knew  we  could  not  easily 
get  out  of  the  Gut  of  Gibraltar  without  knowing  it;  and,  accord- 


76  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

ingly  on  the  third  day  after  leaving  the  frigate,  we  made  the 
rock  early  in  the  morning,  and,  by  two  o'clock,  rounded  Europa 
Point.  I  had  ordered  the  men  to  bend  the  cable,  and,  like 
many  other  young  officers,  fancied  it  was  done  because  they  said 
it  was,  and  because  I  had  ordered  it.  It  never  once  occurred  to 
me  to  go  and  see  if  my  orders  had  been  executed  :  indeed,  to 
say  the  truth,  I  had  quite  as  much  as  I  could  turn  my  hand  to: 
I  was  at  the  helm  from  twelve  o'clock  at  night  till  six  in  the 
morning,  looking  out  for  the  land;  and  when  I  ordered  one  of 
the  men  to  relieve  me,  I  directed  him  how  to  steer,  and  fell  into 
a  profound  sleep,  which  lasted  till  ten  o'clock ;  after  which  I  was 
forced  to  exert  the  whole  of  my  ingenuity  in  order  to  fetch  into 
the  bay,  and  prevent  being  blown  through  the  Gut;  so  that  the 
bending  of  the  cable  escaped  my  memory  until  the  moment  I 
required  the  use  of  the  anchor. 

As  I  passed  under  the  stern  of  one  of  the  ships  of  war  in  the 
bay,  with  my  prize  colours  flying,  the  officer  on  deck  hailed  me, 
and  said  I  had  "  better  shorten  sail."  I  thought  so  too,  but 
how  was  this  to  be  done  ?  My  whole  ship's  company  were  too 
drunk  to  do  it,  and  though  I  begged  for  some  assistance  from 
his  majesty's  ship,  it  blew  so  fresh,  and  we  passed  so  quick,  that 
they  could  not  hear  me,  or  were  not  inclined.  Necessity  has  no 
law.  I  saw  among  the  other  ships  in  the  bay,  a  great  lump  of 
a  transport,  and  I  thought  she  was  much  better  able  to  bear  the 
concussion  I  intended  for  her  than  any  other  vessel;  because  I 
had  heard  then,  and  have  made  sure  of  it  since,  that  her  own- 
ers (like  all  other  owners)  were  cheating  the  government  out  of 
thousands  of  pounds  a  year.  She  was  lying  exactly  in  the  part 
of  the  bay  assigned  for  the  prizes  ;  and  as  I  saw  no  other  possi- 
ble mode  of  "  bringing  the  ship  to  anchor,"  I  steered  for  "  the 
lobster  smack,"  and  ran  slap  on  board  of  her,  to  the  great  as- 
tonishment of  the  master,  mate  and  crew. 

Tlie  usual  expletives,  a  volley  of  oaths  and  curses  on  our  lub- 
berly heads,  followed  the  shock.  This  I  expected,  aud  was  as  fully 
prepared  for  as  I  was  for  the  fall  of  my  foremast,  which,  taking 
the  fore-yard  of  the  transport,  fell  over  the  starboard  quarter, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICF.R.  11 

aiul  greatly  relieved  me  on  tbe  subject  of  sborteuing  sail.  Tbus 
my  pretty  brig  was  first  reduced  to  a  sloop  and  tben  to  a  bulk ; 
fortunately  ber  bottom  was  sound.  I  was  soon  cut  clear  of  tbe 
transport,  and  called  out  in  a  very  manly  voice,  "  Let  go  tbe 
ancbor." 

This  order  was  obeyed  with  promi)titude  :  away  it  weut,  sure 
eiiougb ;  but  tbe  devil  a  cable  was  there  bent  to  it,  and  my  meu 
being  all  stupidly  drunk,  I  let  my  vessel  drift  athwart-bawse  of 
a  frigate;  tbe  commanding  officer  of  which,  seeing  I  bad  no 
other  cable  bent,  very  kindly  sent  a  few  hands  on  board  to  as- 
sist nie;  and  by  five  o'clock  I  was  safely  moored  in  tbe  bay  of 
Gibraltar,  and  walked  my  quarter-deck  as  high  in  my  own  esti- 
mation as  Columbus,  when  be  made  tbe  American  islands. 

But  short,  short  was  my  power  !  my  frigate  arrived  tbe 
next  morning.  Tbe  captain  sent  for  me,  and  I  gave  him  an 
account  of  my  voyage  and  my  disasters ;  be  very  kindly  con- 
soled me  for  my  misfortune  ;  and  so  far  from  being  angry 
with  me  for  losing  my  masts,  said  it  was  wonderful,  under 
all  circumstances,  bow  I  bad  succeeded  in  saving  tbe  vessel. 
We  lay  only  a  fortnight  at  Gibraltar,  when  news  arrived 
that  tbe  French  had  entered  Spain,  and  very  shortly  after 
orders  came  from  England  to  suspend  all  hostilities  against 
the  Spaniards.  This  we  thought  a  bore,  as  it  almost  anni- 
hilated any  chance  of  prize-money  ;  at  tbe  same  time  that 
it  increased  our  labours  and  stimulated  our  activity  in  a  most 
surprising  manner,  and  opened  scenes  to  us  far  more  interesting 
than  if  tbe  war  with  Spain  bad  continued. 

We  were  ordered  up  to  join  tbe  admh-al  off  Toulon,  but 
desired  to  look  into  the  Spanish  port  of  Cartbagena,  on  our 
way,  and  to  report  tbe  state  of  tbe  Spanish  squadron  in 
that  arsenal.  We  were  received  with  great  politeness  by  the 
governor  and  the  officers  of  the  Spanish .  fleet  lying  there. 
These  people  we  found  were  men  of  talent  and  education  ; 
their  ships  were  mostly  dismantled,  and  they  had  not  the  means 
of  equipping  them. 


.78  FRANK   MILDMAY  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER    VI. 

Par. — ^You  give  me  most  egregious  indignity. 

La/, — Ay,  with  all  my  heart ;  and  thou  art  worthy  of  it. 

All's  Well  that  Beds  Well. 

Naturally  anxious  to  behold  a  country  from  which  we  had 
hitherto  been  excluded  for  so  many  years,  we  all  applied  for 
leave  to  go  on  shore,  and  obtained  it.  Even  the  seamen  were 
allowed  the  same  indulgence,  and  went  in  parties  of  twenty 
and  thirty  at  a  time.  We  were  followed  and  gaped  at  by 
the  people  ;  but  shunned  at  the  same  time  as  "  heretics."  The 
inns  of  the  town,  like  all  the  rest  of  them  in  Spain,  have 
not  improved  since  the  days  of  the  immortal  Santillana — they 
were  all  more  or  less  filled  with  the  lowest  of  the  rabble,  and  a 
F,et  of  bravos,  whose  calling  was  robbery,  and  who  cared 
little  if  murder  were  its  accompaniment.  The  cookery  was 
execrable.  Garlic  and  oil  were  its  principal  ingredients.  The 
olla  podrida,  and  its  constant  attendant,  the  tomato  sauce, 
were  intolerable,  but  the  wine  was  very  well  for  a  midshipman. 
Whenever  we  had  a  repast  in  any  of  these  houses,  the  bravos 
endeavoured  to  pick  a  quarrel  with  us  ;  and  these  fellows 
being  always  armed  with  stilettos,  we  found  it  necessary  to 
be  equally  well  prepared  ;  and  whenever  we  seated  ourselves 
at  a  table  we  never  failed  to  display  the  butts  of  our  pistols, 
which  kept  them  in  decent  order,  for  they  are  as  cowardly 
as  they  are  thievish.  Our  seamen  not  being  so  cautious,  or 
so  well  provided  with  arms,  were  fre'quently  robbed  and  assassi- 
nated by  these  rascals. 

I  was,  on  one  occasion,  near  falling  a  victim  to  them. 
Walking  in  the  evening  with  the  second  master,  and  having 
a  pretty  little  Spanish  girl  under  my  arm,  four  of  these  villains 
accosted  us.  We  soon  perceived  by  their  manner  of  holding 
their  cloaks,  that  they  had  their  stilettos  ready.  I  desired 
my  companion  to  draw  his  dirk,   to  keep  close  to  me,  and 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  79 

not  to  let  them  get  between  us  and  the  wall.  Seeing  that 
we  were  prepared,  they  wished  us  "  bucnos  noches"  (good 
night),  and,  endeavouring  to  put  us  off  our  guard  by  enter- 
ing into  conversation,  asked  us  to  give  them  a  cigar,  which 
my  companion  would  have  done,  had  I  not  cautioned  him 
not  to  quit  his  dirk  with  his  right  hand,  for  this  was  all  they 
wanted. 

In  this  defensive  posture  we  continued,  uutil  we  had  nearly 
reached  the  plaza  or  great  square,  where  many  people  were 
walking  and  enjoying  themselves  by  moon-light,  the  usual 
custom  of  the  country.  "Now,"  said  I  to  my  friend,  "let 
us  make  a  start  from  these  fellows.  When  I  run,  do  you 
follow  me,  and  don't  stop  till  we  are  in  the  middle  of  the 
square." 

The  manoeuvre  was  successful,  we  outran  the  thieves,  who 
were  not  aware  of  our  plan,  and  were  encumbered  with  their 
heavy  cloaks.  Finding  we  had  escaped,  they  turned  upon 
the  girl  and  robbed  her  of  her  miserable  earnings.  This  we 
saw,  but  could  not  prevent ;  such  was  the  police  of  Spain  tlicn, 
nor  has  it  improved  since. 

This  was  the  last  time  I  ventured  on  shore  at  night,  except 
to  go  once  with  a  party  of  our  officers  to  the  house  of  the 
Spanish  admiral,  who  had  a  very  pretty  niece,  and  was  liberale 
enough  not  to  frown  on  us  poor  heretics.  She  was  indeed 
a  pretty  creature  ;  her  lovely  black  eyes,  long  eyelashes,  and 
raven  hair,  betrayed  a  symptom  of  Moorish  blood,  at  the  same 
time  that  her  ancient  family  name  and  high  good  breeding 
gave  her  the  envied  appellation  of  Vieja  Christiana. 

This  fair  creature  was  pleased  to  bestow  a  furtive  glance 
of  approbation  on  my  youthful  form  and  handsome  dress.  !My 
vanity  was  tickled.  I  spoke  French  to  her ;  she  understood 
it  imperfectly,  and  pretended  to  know  still  less  of  it,  from 
the  hatred  borne  by  all  the  Spaniards  at  that  tune  to  the 
French  nation. 

We  improved  our  time,  however,  which  was  but  short ;  and, 
before  we  parted,  perfectly  understood  each  other.     I  thought 


80  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

I  could  be  contented  to  give  up  every  thing,  and  reside  with 
her  in  the  wilds  of  Spain. 

The  time  of  our  departure  came,  and  I  was  torn  away  from 
my  Rosaritta,  not  without  the  suspicions  of  my  captain  and 
shipmates  that  I  had  been  a  too  highly  favoured  youth.  This 
was  not  true.  I  loved  the  dear  angel,  but  never  had  wronged 
her  ;  and  I  went  to  sea  in  a  mood  which  I  sometimes  thought 
might  end  in  an  act  of  desperation  ;  but  salt  water  is  an 
admirable  specific  against  love,  at  least  against  such  "love  as 
that  was. 

We  joined  the  admiral  oft'  Toulon,  and  were  ordered  by 
him  to  cruise  between  Perpignan  and  Marseilles.  We  parted 
from  the  fleet  on  the  following  day,  and  kept  the  coast  in 
a  continued  state  of  alarm.  Not  a  vessel  dared  to  show  her 
nose  out  of  port ;  we  had  her  if  she  did.  Batteries  we  laughed 
at,  and  either  silenced  them  with  our  long  eighteen-pounders, 
or  landed  and  blew  them  up. 

In  one  of  these  little  skirmishes  I  had  very  nearly  been 
taken,  and  should,  in  that  case,  have  missed  all  the  honour, 
and  glory,  and  hair-breadth  escapes  which  will  be  found  related 
in  the  following  pages.  I  should  either  have  been  sabred  in 
mere  retaliation,  or  marched  off  to  Verdun  for  the  remaining 
six  years  of  the  war. 

We  had  landed  to  storm  and  blow  up  a  battery,  for  which 
purpose  we  carried  with  us  a  bag  of  powder,  and  a  train  of 
canvas.  Every  thing  went  on  prosperously.  We  came  to 
a  canal  which  it  was  necessary  to  cross,  and  the  best  swimmers 
were  selected  to  convey  the  powder  over  without  wetting  it. 
I  was  one  of  them.  I  took  off  my  shoes  and  stockings  to  save 
them  ;  and  after  we  had  taken  the  battery,  I  was  so  intent 
on  looking  for  the  telegraphic  signal  box,  that  I  had  quite 
forgotten  the  intended  explosion,  until  I  heard  the  cry  of 
"  Run  I   run  !"  from  those  outside  who  had  lighted  the  train. 

I  was  at  that  moment  on  the  wall  of  the  fort,  nearly  thirty 
feet  high,  but  sloping.  I  jumped  oue  part;  and  scrambled  the 
other,  and  ran  away  as  fast  as  I  could,  amidst  a  shower  of 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  81 

stones,  which  fell  around  me  like  an  eruption  of  Vesuvius. 
Luckily  I  was  not  hit,  but  I  had  cut  my  foot  in  the  leap,  and 
was  in  much  pain.  I  had  two  fields  of  stubble  to  pass,  and  my 
shoes  and  stockings  were  on  the  other  side  of  the  canal — the 
sharp  straw  entered  the  wound,  and  almost  drove  me  mad,  and 
I  was  tempted  to  sit  down  and  resign  myself  to  my  fate. 

However,  I  persevered,  and  had  nearly  reached  the  boats, 
which  were  putting  off,  not  aware  of  ray  absence,  when  a  noise 
like  distant  thunder  reached  my  ears."  This  I  soon  found  was 
cavalry  from  Cotte,  which  had  come  to  defend  the  battery.  I 
mustered  all  my  strength,  and  plunged  into  the  sea  to  swim  off 
to  the  boats,  and  so  little  time  had  I  to  spare,  that  some  of  the 
enemy's  chasseurs,  on  their  black  horses,  swam  in  after  me,  and 
fired  their  pistols  at  my  head. 

The  boats  were  at  this  time  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from 
the  shore ;  the  officers  in  them  fortunately  perceived  the  cavalry, 
and  saw  me  at  the  same  time  :  a  boat  laid  on  her  oars,  which 
with  great  difficulty  I  reached,  and  was  taken  in;  but  so  ex- 
hausted with  pain  and  loss  of  blood,  that  I  was  carried  on  board 
almost  dead;  my  foot  was  cut  to  the  bone,  and  I  continued  a 
month  under  the  surgeon's  care.  ' 

I  had  nearly  recovered  from  this  accident,  when  we  captured 
a  ship,  with  which  Murphy  was  sent  as  prize-master,  and  the 
same  evening  a  schooner,  which  we  cut  out  from  her  anchorage. 
The  command  of  this  latter  vessel  was  given  to  me — it  was  late 
in  the  evening,  and  the  hurry  was  so  great  that  the  keg  of 
spirits  intended  for  myself  and  crew  was  not  put  on  board. 
This  was  going  from  one  extreme  to  the  other;  in  my  last  ship 
we  had  too  much  liquor,  and  in  this  too  little.  Naturally 
thirsty,  our  desire  for  drink  needed  not  the  stimulus  of  salt  fish 
and  calavances,  for  such  was  our  cargo  and  such  was  our  food, 
and  deeply  did  we  deplore  the  loss  of  our  spirits. 

On  the  third  day  after  leaving  the  frigate,  on  our  way  to 
Gibraltar,  I  fell  in  with  a  ship  on  the  coast  of  Spain,  and  knew 
it  to  be  the  one  Murphy  commanded,  by  a  remarkable  white 
patch  in  the  main-topsail.     I  made  all  sail  in  chase,  in  hopes  of 

4* 


82  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

obtaining  some  spirits  from  him,  knowing  that  he  had  more  than 
he  could  consume,  even  if  he  and  his  people  got  drunk  every 
day.  When  I  came  near  him,  he  made  all  the  sail  he  could. 
At  dusk  I  was  near  enough  almost  to  hail  him,  but  he  stood 
on;  and  I,  having  a  couple  of  small  three-pounders  on  board, 
with  some  powder,  fired  one  of  them  as  a  signal.  This  I  re- 
peated again  and  again;  but  he  would  not  bring  to,  and  when 
it  was  dark,  I  lost  sight  of  him,  and  saw  him  no  more  until  we 
met  at  Gibraltar. 

Next  morning  I  fell  in  with  three  Spanish  fishing-boats. 
They  took  me  for  a  French  privateer,  pulled  up  their  lines,  and 
made  sail.  I  came  up  with  them,  and,  firing  a  gun,  they  hove 
to  aud  surrendered.  I  ordered  them  alongside;  and  finding 
they  had  each  a  keg  of  wine  on  board,  I  condemned  that  part 
of  their  cargo  as  contraband,  but  I  honestly  oifered  payment 
for  what  I  had  taken.  This  they  declined,  finding  I  was 
"  Ingles,"  too  happy  to  think  they  were  not  in  the  hands  of  the 
French.  I  then  gave  each  of  them  a  pound  of  tobacco,  which 
not  only  satisfied  them,  but  confirmed  them  in  the  newly  re- 
ceived opinion  among  their  countrymen,  that  England  was  the 
<•  bravest  as  well  as  the  most  generous  of  nations.  They  offered 
everything  their  boat  contained ;  but  I  declined  all  most  nobly, 
because  I  had  obtained  all  I  wanted;  and  we  parted  with 
mutual  good  will,  they  shouting  "  Viva  IngleUrre !"  and  we 
drinking  them  a  good  passage  in  their  own  wine. 

Many  days  elapsed  before  we  reached  Gibraltar,  the  winds 
were  light  and  the  weather  fine;  but  as  we  had  discovered  that 
the  fishing-boats  had  wine,  we  took  care  to  supply  our  cellar 
without  any  troul)le  from  the  excise;  and,  from  our  equitable 
mode  of  barter,  I  had  no  reason  to  think  that  his  majesty  King 
George  lost  any  of  liis  deserved  popularity  by  our  conduct. 
When  we  reached  Gibraltar,  I  had  still  a  couple  of  good  kegs 
wherewith  to  regale  my  messmates;  though  I  was  sorry  to  find 
the  frigate  and  the  rest  of  her  prizes  had  got  in  before  us. 
Murphy,  indeed,  did  not  arrive  till  the  day  after  me. 

1   was  on  the  qiiartcr-deck  when  he  came  in;  aud,  to  my 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  83 

astonishment,  he  reported  that  he  had  been  chased  by  a  French 
l)rivateer,  and  had  beat  her  off  after  a  four  hours'  action — that 
his  rigging  had  suffered  a  good  deal,  but  that  he  had  not  a  man 
hurt.  I  let  him  run  on  till  evening.  Many  believed  him;  but 
some  doubted.  At  dinner,  in  the  gun-room,  his  arrogance 
knew  no  bounds;  and,  wlien  Iialf  druuk,  ray  three  men  were 
magnified  into  a  well-manned  brig,  as  full  of  men  and  guns  as 
she  could  stuff  I 

Sick  of  all  this  nonsense,  I  then  simply  related  the  story  as 
it  had  occurred,  and  sent  for  the  quarter-master,  who  was  with 
me,  and  confirmed  all  my  statements.  From  that  moment  he 
was  a  mark  of  contempt  in  the  ship.  Every  lie  was  a  Murphy, 
and  every  Murphy  a  liar.  lie  dared  not  resent  this  scorn  of 
ours  ;  and  found  himself  so  uncomfortable,  that  he  ofiered  no 
objection  to  the  removal  proposed  by  the  captain ;  his  character 
followed  him,  and  he  never  obtained  promotion.  It  is  a  satis- 
faction to  me  to  reflect,  that  I  not  only  had  my  full  revenge  on 
this  man,  but  that  I  had  been  the  instrument  of  turning  him 
out  of  an  honourable  profession  which  he  would  have  disgraced. 

This  was  no  time  for  frigates  to  be  idle;  and  if  I  chose  to 
give  the  name  of  mine  and  my  captain,  the  naval  history  of  the 
country  would  prove  that  ours,  of  all  other  ships,  was  one  of  the 
most  distinguished  in  the  cause  of  Spanish  freedom.  The  south 
of  Spain  became  the  theatre  of  the  most  cruel  and  desolating 
war.  Our  station  was  off  Barcelona,  and  thence  to  Perpignan, 
the  frontier  of  France,  on  the  borders  of  Spain.  Oui'  duty  (for 
which  the  enterprising  disposition  of  om*  captain  was  admirably 
calculated)  was  to  support  the  guerrilla  chiefs;  to  cut  off  the 
enemy's  convoys  of  provisions,  either  by  sea  or  along  the  road 
which  lay  by  the  sea-shore;  or  to  dislodge  the  enemy  from  any 
strong-hold  he  might  be  in  possession  of. 

I  was  absent  from  the  ship  on  such  services  three  or  four 
weeks  at  a  time,  being  attached  to  a  division  of  small-arm  men 
under  the  command  of  the  third-lieutenant.  We  suffered  very 
much  from  privations  of  all  kinds.  We  never  took  with  us 
moie   tl'.an  one  week's   jjrovision,   and  were  frequently  three 


84  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OK, 

weeks  without  receiving  any  supply.  In  the  article  of  dress,  our 
"  catalogue  of  negatives,"  as  a  celebrated  author  says,  "  was 
very  copious  ;"  we  had  no  shoes  nor  stockings — no  linen,  and 
not  all  of  us  had  hats — a  pocket-handkerchief  was  the  com- 
mon substitute  for  this  article  ;  we  clambered  over  rocks,  and 
wandered  through  the  flinty  or  muddy  ravines  in  company  with 
our  new  allies,  the  hardy  mountaineers. 

These  men  respected  our  valour,  but  did  not  like  our  religion 
or  our  manners.  They  cheerfully  divided  their  rations  with  us; 
but  were  always  inexorable  in  their  cruelty  to  the  French  pri- 
soners ;  and  no  persuasion  of  ours  could  induce  them  to  spare 
the  life  of  one  of  these  unhappy  people,  whose  cries  and 
entreaties  to  the  English  to  intercede  for  or  save  them,  were 
always  unavailing.  They  were  either  stabbed  before  our  faces, 
or  dragged  to  the  top  of  a  hill  commanding  a  view  of  some 
fortress  occupied  by  the  French,  and,  in  sight  of  their  country- 
men, their  throats  were  cut  from  ear  to  ear. 

Should  the  Christian  reader  condemn  this  horrid  barbarity, 
as  he  certainly  will,  he  must  remember  that  these  people  were 
men  whose  every  feeling  had  been  outraged.  Rape,  conflagra- 
tion, murder,  and  famine,  had  every  where  followed  the  steps 
of  the  cruel  invaders  ;  and  however  we  might  lament  their  fate, 
and  endeavour  to  avert  it,  we  could  not  but  admit  that  the 
retaliation  was  not  without  justice. 

In  this  irregular  warfare,  we  sometimes  revelled  in  luxuries 
and  at  others  were  nearly  starved.  One  day,  in  particular, 
when  fainting  with  hunger,  we  met  a  fat  rosy-looking  capuchin : 
we  begged  him  to  show  us  where  we  might  procure  some  food, 
either  by  purchase  or  in  any  other  way  ;  but  he  neither  knew 
where  to  procure  any,  nor  had  he  any  money  :  his  order,  he 
said  forbade  him  to  use  it.  As  he  turned  away  from  us,  in 
some  precipitation,  we  thought  we  heard  something  rattle  ; 
and  as  necessity  has  no  law,  we  took  the  liberty  of  search- 
ing the  padre,  on  whose  person  we  found  forty  dollars,  of 
which  we  relieved  him,  assuring  him  that  our  consciences 
were  perfectly   clear,   since   his   order   forbade   him  to   carry 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  85 

money ;  and  that  as  he  lived  among  good  Christians,  thcj' 
would  not  allow  him  to  want.  He  cursed  us,  but  we  laughed 
at  him,  because  he  had  produced  his  own  misfortune  by  his 
falsehood  and  hypocrisy. 

This  was  the  manner  in  which  the  Spanish  priests  generally 
behaved  to  us  ;  and  in  this  way  we  generally  repaid  them  when 
we  could.  We  kept  the  plunder — converted  it  into  food — 
joined  our  party  soon  after,  and  supposed  the  affair  was  over  ; 
but  the  friar  had  followed  us  at  a  distance,  and  we  perceived 
him  coming  up  the  hill  where  we  were  stationed.  To  avoid 
discovery  we  exchanged  clothes,  in  such  a  manner  as  to  render 
us  no  longer  recognizable.  The  friar  made  his  complaint  to 
the  guerrilla  chief,  whose  eyes  flashed  fire  at  the  indignant 
treatment  his  priest  had  received;  and  it  is  probable  that  blood- 
shed would  have  ensued  had  he  been  able  to  point  out  the 
culprits, 

I  kept  my  countenance,  though  I  had  changed  my  dress,  and 
as  he  looked  at  me  with  something  beyond  suspicion,  I  stared 
him  full  in  the  face,  with  the  wdiole  united  powers  of  ray  match- 
less impudence,  and,  in  a  loud  and  menacing  tone  of  voice, 
asked  him  in  French,  if  he  took  me  for  a  brigand. 

This  question,  as  well  as  the  manner  in  which  it  was  put, 
silenced,  if  it  did  not  satisfy  the  priest.  He  seemed  to  listen 
with  apparent  conviction  to  the  suggestion  of  some  of  our 
people,  that  he  had  been  robbed  by  another  party,  ard  he  set 
out  in  pursuit  of  them.  I  was  quite  tired  of  his  importunities, 
and  glad  to  see  him  depart.  As  he  turned  away,  he  gave  me  a 
very  scrutinizing  look,  which  I  returned  with  another  full  of  well- 
dissembled  rage  and  scorn.  My  curling  hair  had  been  well  flat- 
tened down  with  a  piece  of  soap,  which  I  had  in  my  pocket, 
and  I  had  much  more  the  appearance  of  a  Methodist  parson 
than  a  pickpocket. 

Some  time  previous  to  this,  the  frigate  to  which  I  belonged 
had  been  ordered  on  other  services  ;  and  as  I  had  no  oppor- 
tunity of  joining  her,  1  was  placed,  pro  tempore,  on  board  of 
another. 


86  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OB, 

But  as  this  chapter  has  already  spun  out  its  length,  I  shall 
refer  my  reader  to  the  next  for  further  particulars. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

The  shout 
Of  battle  now  began,  and  rushing  sound 
Of  onset  *  *  *  * 

'TwLxt  host  and  host  but  narrow  space  was  left. 

Milton. 

From  the  deservedly  high  character  borne  by  the  captain  of 
the  frigate  which  I  was  ordered  to  join,  he  was  employed  by 
Lord  CoUingwood  on  the  most  confidential  services  ;  and  we 
were  sent  to  assist  the  Spaniards  in  their  defence  of  the  impor- 
tant fortress  of  Rosas,  in  Catalonia.  It  has  already  been 
observed  that  the  French  general,  St.  Cyr,  had  entered  that 
country,  and  having  taken  Figueras  and  Gerona,  was  looking 
with  a  wistful  eye  on  the  castle  of  Trinity,  on  the  southeast 
side,  the  capture  of  which  would  be  a  certain  prelude  to  the 
fall  of  Rosas. 

My  captain  determined  to  defend  it,  although  it  had  just 
been  abandoned  by  another  British  naval  officer,  as  untenable. 
I  volunteered,  though  a  supernumerary,  to  be  one  of  the  party, 
and  was  sent :  nor  can  I  but  acknowledge  that  the  officer  who 
had  abandoned  the  place  had  shown  more  than  a  sound  discre- 
tion. Every  part  of  the  castle  was  in  ruins.  Heaps  of  crum- 
bling stones  and  rubbish,  broken  gun-carriages  and  split  guns, 
pri.'soiited  to  my  mind  a  very  unfavourable  field  of  battle.  The 
only  advantage  we  appeared  to  have  over  the  assailants  was, 
that  the  breach  which  tlicy  had  effected  in  the  walls  was  steep 
in  its  ascent,  and  the  loose  stones  either  fell  down  upon  them,  or 
gave  way  under  their  feet,  while  we  plied  them  with  every  kind 
of  missile.     This  was  our  only  defence,  and  all  we  had  to 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  81 

prevent  the  enemy  marching  into  the  works,  if  works  they 
could  he  called. 

There  was  another  and  a  very  serious  disadvantage  attending 
our  locality.  The  castle  was  situated  very  near  the  summit  of 
a  steep  hill,  the  upper  part  of  which  was  in  possession  of  the 
enemy,  who  were,  by  this  means,  nearly  on  a  level  with  the  top 
of  the  castle,  and  on  that  eminence  three  hundred  Swiss  sharp- 
shooters had  effected  a  lodgment,  and  thrown  up  works  within 
fifty  yards  of  us,  keeping  up  a  constant  fire  at  the  castle.  If  a 
head  was  seen  above  the  walls,  twenty  rifle  bullets  whizzed  at 
it  in  a  moment,  and  the  same  unremitted  attention  was  paid  to 
our  boats  as  they  landed. 

On  another  liill,  much  to  the  northward,  and  consequently 
farther  inland,  the  French  had  erected  a  battery  of  six  twenty- 
four  pounders  :  this  agreeable  neighbour  was  only  three  hun- 
dred yards  from  us  :  and  allowing  short  intervals  for  the  guns 
to  cool,  this  battery  kept  up  a  constant  fire  upon  us  from  day- 
light till  dark.  I  never  could  have  sujjposed,  in  my  boyish 
days,  that  the  time  would  arrive  when  I  should  envy  a  cock 
upon  Shrove-Tuesday ;  yet  such  was  my  case  when  in  this  in- 
fei'nal  castle.  It  was  certainly  not  giving  us  fair  play;  we  had 
no  chance  against  such  a  force  ;  but  my  captain  was  a  knight- 
errant,  and  as  I  had  volunteered,  I  had  no  right  to  complain. 
Such  was  the  precision  of  the  enemy's  fire,  that  we  could  tell 
the  stone  that  would  be  hit  by  the  next  shot,  merely  from  see- 
ing where  the  last  had  struck,  and  our  men  were  frequently 
wounded  by  the  splinters  of  granite,  with  which  the  walls  were 
built,  and  others  picked  off  like  partridges,  by  the  Swiss  corps 
on  the  hill  close  to  us. 

Our  force  in  the  castle  consisted  of  a  hundred  and  thirty 
English  seamen  and  marines,  one  company  of  Spanish  and 
another  of  Swiss  troops  in  Spanish  pay.  Never  were  troops 
worse  paid  and  fed,  or  better  fired  at.  We  all  pigged  it  to- 
gether ;  dirty  straw  and  fleas  for  our  beds  ;  our  food  on  the 
same  scale  of  luxury  ;  from  the  captain  downwards  there  was 
no  distinction.     Fighting  is  sometimes  a  very  agreeable   pas- 


88  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

time,  but  excess  "palls  on  the  sense;"  and  here  we  had  enough 
of  it,  without  what  I  always  thought  an  indispensable  accom- 
paniment, namely,  a  good  belly  full ;  nor  did  I  conceive  how  a 
man  could  perform  his  duty  without  it ;  but  here  I  was  forced, 
with  many  others,  to  make  the  experiment,  and  when  the  boats 
could  not  land,  which  was  often  the  case,  we  piped  to  dinner 
fro  forma,  as  our  captain  liked  regularity,  and  drank  cold  water 
to  fill  our  stomachs. 

I  have  often  heard  my  poor  old  uncle  say  that  no  man  knows 
what  he  can  do  till  he  tries  ;  and  the  enemy  gave  us  plenty  of 
opportunities  of  displaying  our  ingenuity,  industry,  watchful- 
ness, and  abstinence.  When  poor  Penelope  wove  her  web,  the 
poet  says — 

"  The  night  unravelled  what  the  day  began." 

With  US  it  was  precisely  the  reverse  :  the  day  destroyed  all  the 
labours  of  the  night.  The  hours  of  darkness  were  employed 
by  us  in  filling  sand-bags,  and  laying  them  in  the  breach,  clear- 
ing away  rubbish,  and  preparing  to  receive  the  enemy's  fire, 
which  was  sure  to  recommence  at  daylight.  These  avocations, 
together  with  a  constant  and  most  vigilant  watch  against  sur- 
prise, took  up  so  much  of  our  time,  that  little  was  left  for  re- 
pose, and  our  meals  required  still  less. 

There  was  some  originality  in  one  of  our  modes  of  defence, 
and  which,  not  being  secundum  artem,  might  have  provoked  the 
smile  of  an  engineer.  The  captain  contrived  to  make  a  shoot  of 
smooth  deal  boards,  which  he  received  from  the  ship  ;  these  he 
placed  in  a  slanting  direction  in  the  breach,  and  caused  them 
to  be  well  greased  with  cook's  slush  :  so  that  the  enemies,  who 
wished  to  come  into  our  hold,  must  have  jumped  down  upon 
them,  and  would  in  an  instant  be  precipitated  into  the  ditch 
below,  a  very  considerable  depth,  where  they  might  cither 
have  remained  till  the  doctor  came  to  tliem,  or,  if  they  were 
able,  begin  their  labours  de  novo.  Tliis  was  a  very  good  bug- 
trap  ;  for,  at  that  time,  I  thought  just  as  little  of  killing  a 


THK    NAVAL    OFFICER.  89 

Frenchman  as  I  did  of  destroying  the  filthy  little  nightly  de- 
predator just  mentioned. 

Besides  this  slippery  trick,  which  we  played  them  with  great 
success,  we  served  them  another.  We  happened  to  have  ou 
board  the  frigate  a  large  quantity  of  fish-hooks  ;  these  we 
planted  not  only  ou  the  greasy  boards,  but  in  every  part  where 
the  intriiders  were  Hkely  to  place  their  hands  or  feet.  The 
breach  itself  was  mined,  and  loaded  with  shells  and  haud-gren- 
h.des ;  masked  guns,  charged  up  to  the  muzzle  with  musket-balls, 
enfiladed  the  spot  in  every  direction.  Such  were  our  defences; 
and,  considering  that  we  had  been  three  weeks  in  the  castle, 
opposed  to  such  mighty  odds,  it  is  surprising  that  we  only  lost 
twenty  men.     The  crisis  was  now  approaching. 

One  morning,  very  early,  I  happened  to  have  the  look-out. 
The  streak  of  fog  which  during  the  night  hangs  between  the 
hills  in  that  country,  and  presses  down  into  the  valleys,  had 
just  begun  to  rise,  and  the  stars  to  grow  more  dim  above  our 
heads,  when  I  was  looking  over  the  castle  wall  towards  the 
breach.  The  captain  came  out  and  asked  mc  what  ^  was 
looking  at.  I  told  him  I  hardly  knew;  but  there  did  appear 
something  unusual  in  the  valley,  immediately  below  the  breach. 
He  listened  a  moment,  looked  attentively  with  his  night-glass, 
and  exclaimed,  in  his  firm  voice,  but  iu  an  under-toned  manner, 
"  To  arms  !" — they  are  coming  1" 

In  three  minutes  every  man  was  at  his  post ;  and  though  all 
were  quick,  there  was  no  time  to  spare,  for,  by  this  time  the  black 
column  of  the  enemy  was  distinctly  visible,  curling  along  the 
valley  like  a  great  centipede  ;  and,  with  the  daring  enterprise 
so  common  among  the  troops  of  Napoleon,  had  begun  in  silence 
to  mount  the  breach.  It  was  an  awful  and  eventful  moment ; 
but  the  coolness  and  determination  of  the  little  garrison  was 
equal  to  the  occasion. 

The  word  was  given  to  take  good  aim,  and  a  volley  from 
the  masked  guns  and  musketry  was  poured  into  the  thickest  of 
them.  They  paused — deep  groans  ascended  !  They  retreated 
a  few  paces  in  confusion,  tlien  rallied,  and  again  advanced  to 


90  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

the  attack;  and  now  the  fire  on  both  sides  was  kept  up  without 
intermission,  The  great  guns  from  the  hill  fort,  and  the  Swiss 
sharp-shooters,  still  nearer,  poured  copious  volleys  upon  us,  and 
with  loud  shouts  cheered  on  their  comrades  to  the  assault. 
As  they  approached  and  covered  our  mine,  the  train  was  fired, 
and  up  they  went  in  the  air,  and  down  they  fell  buried  in  the 
ruins  !  Groans,  screams,  confusion,  French  yells,  British  hur- 
ras, rent  the  sky  !  The  hills  resounded  with  the  shouts  of 
victory  !  We  sent  them  hand-grenades  in  abundance,  and 
broke  their  shins  in  glorious  style  !  I  must  say  that  the  French 
behaved  nobly,  though  many  a  tall  grenadier  and  pioneer  fell 
by  the  symbol  in  front  of  his  warhke  cap.  I  cried  with  rage 
and  excitement ;  and  we  all  fought  like  bull-dogs,  for  we  knew 
there  was  no  quarter  to  be  given. 

Ten  minutes  had  elapsed  since  the  firing  began,  and  in  that 
time  many  a  brave  fellow  bit  the  dust.  The  head  of  their 
attacking  column  had  been  destroyed  by  the  explosion  of  our 
mine.  Still  they  had  re-formed,  and  were  again  half  way  up 
the  ^each  when  the  day  began  to  dawn;  and  we  saw  a  chosen 
body  of  one  thousand  men,  led  on  by  their  colonel,  and  advanc- 
ing over  the  dead  which  had  just  fallen. 

The  gallant  leader  appeared  to  be  as  cool  and  composed  as 
if  he  were  at  breakfast ;  with  his  drawn  sword  he  pointed  to 
the  breach,  and  we  heard  him  exclaim,  "  suivez  moi !"  I  felt 
jealous  of  this  brave  fellow — jealous  of  his  being  a  Frenchman  ; 
and  I  threw  a  lighted  hand-grenade  between  his  feet — he 
picked  it  up,  and  threw  it  from  him  to  a  considerable  distance. 

"  Cool  chap  enough,  that,"  said  the  captain,  who  stood  close 
to  me  ;  "  I'll  give  him  another,"  which  he  did,  but  this  the  offi- 
cer kicked  away  with  equal  sang  f raid  and  dignity.  "  Nothing 
will  cure  that  fellow,"  resumed  the  captain,  "  but  an  ounce  of 
lead  on  an  empty  stomach — it's  a  pity,  too,  to  kill  so  fine  a  fel- 
low— but  there  is  no  help  for  it." 

So  saying,  he  took  a  musket  out  of  my  hand,  which  I  had 
just  loaded — aimed,  fired — the  colonel  staggered,  clapped  his 
hand  to  his  breast,  and  fell  back  in  the  arms  of  some  of  his 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  91 

men,  who  threw  clown  their  muskets  and  took  him  on  their 
shoulders,  either  unconscious  or  perfectly  regardless  of  tlie 
death-work  which  was  going  on  around  them.  The  firing 
redoubled  from  our  musketry  on  this  little  group,  every  man  of 
whom  was  either  killed  or  wounded.  The  colonel,  again  left  to 
hunself,  tottered  a  few  paces  farther,  till  he  reached  a  small 
bush,  not  ten  yards  from  the  spot  where  he  received  his  mortal 
wound.  Here  he  fell ;  his  sword,  which  he  still  grasped  in  his 
right  hand,  rested  on  the  boughs,  and  pointed  upwards  to  the 
sky,  as  if  directing  the  road  to  the  spirit  of  its  gallant  master. 

With  the  life  of  the  colonel  ended  the  hopes  of  the  French 
for  that  day.  The  officers,  we  could  perceive,  did  their  duty — 
cheered,  encouraged,  and  drove  on  their  men,  but  all  in  vain  ! 
We  saw  them  pass  tlieir  swords  through  the  bodies  of  the  fugi- 
tives ;  but  the  men  did  not  even  mind  that — they  would  only 
be  killed  in  their  own  way — they  had  had  fighting  enough  for 
one  breakfast.  The  first  impulse,  the  fiery  onset,  had  been 
checked  by  the  fall  of  their  brave  leader,  and  sauve  qui  pent, 
whether  coming  from  the  officers  or  drummers,  no  matter 
which,  terminate<l  the  affair,  and  we  were  left  a  little  time  to 
breathe,  and  to  count  the  number  of  our  dead. 

The  moment  the  French  perceived  from  their  batteries  that 
the  attempt  had  failed,  and  that  the  leader  of  the  enterprise 
was  dead,  they  poured  in  an  angry  fire  upon  us.  I  stuck  my 
hat  on  the  bayonet  of  my  musket,  and  just  showed  it  above  the 
wall.  A  dozen  bullets  were  through  it  in  a  minute  ;  very  for- 
tunately my  head  was  not  in  it. 

The  fire  of  the  batteries  having  ceased,  which  it  generally 
did  at  stated  periods,  we  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  the 
point  of  attack.  Scaling  ladders  and  dead  bodies  lay  in  profu- 
sion. All  the  wounded  had  been  removed  ;  but  what  magnifi- 
cent "  food  for  powder"  were  the  bodies  which  lay  before  us  1 — 
all,  it  would  seem,  picked  men ;  not  one  less  than  six  feet,  and 
some  more  :  they  were  clad  in  their  gray  capots,  to  render 
their  appearance  more  sombre,  and  less  discernible  in  the 
twiliffht  of  the  morning  ;  and  as  the  weather  was  cold  during 


92  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

the  nights,  I  secretly  determined  to  have  one  of  these  great 
coats  as  a  cJwe  amie  to  keep  me  warm  in  night-watches.  I 
also  resolved  to  have  the  colonel's  sword  to  present  to  my  cap- 
tain ;  and  as  soon  as  it  was  dark  I  walked  down  the  breach, 
brought  up  one  of  the  scaling-ladders,  which  1  deposited  in  the 
castle,  and,  having  done  so  much  for  the  king,  I  set  out  to  do 
something  for  myself. 

It  was  pitch  dark.  I  stumbled  on  ;  the  wind  blew  a  hurri- 
cane, and  the  dust  and  mortar  almost  blinded  me  ;  but  I  knew 
my  way  pretty  well.  Yet  there  was  something  very  jackall-like 
in  wandering  about  among  dead  bodies  in  the  night-time,  and  1 
really  felt  a  horror  at  my  situation.  There  was  a  dreadful 
stillness  between  the  blasts,  which  the  pitch  darkness  made 
peculiarly  awful  to  an  unfortified  mind.  It  is  for  this  reason 
that  I  would  ever  discourage  night-attacks,  unless  you  can  rely 
on  your  men.  They  generally  fail  ;  because  the  man  of  com- 
mon bravery, -who  would  acquit  himself  fairly  in  broad  daylight, 
will  hang  back  during  the  night.  Fear  and  Darkness  have 
always  been  firm  allies  ;  and  are  inseparably  playing  into  each 
other's  hands.  Darkness  conceals  fear,  anfl  therefore  Fear 
loves  Darkness,  because  it  saves  the  coward  from  shame  ;  and 
when  the  fear  of  shame  is  the  only  stimulus  to  fight,  daylight  is 
essentially  necessary. 

I  crept  cautiously  along,  feeling  for  the  dead  bodies.  The 
first  I  laid  my  hand  on  made  my  blood  curdle.  It  was  the 
lacerated  thigh  of  a  grenadier,  whose  flesh  had  been  torn  off  by 
a  hand-grenade.  "Friend,"  said  I,  "if  I  may  judge  from  the 
nature  of  your  wound,  your  great  coat  is  not  worth  having.'' 
The  next  subject  I  handled  had  been  better  killed.  A  musket, 
ball  through,  his  head  had  settled  all  his  tradesmen's  bills  ;  and 
I  hesitated  not  in  becoming  residuary  legatee,  as  I  was  sure  the 
assets  would  more  than  discharge  the  undertaker's  bill  ;  but  the 
body  was  cold  and  stiff,  and  did  not  readily  yield  its  garment. 

I,  however,  succeeded  in  obtaining  my  object,  in  which  I 
arrayed  myself,  and  went  on  in  search  of  the  colonel's  sword  ; 
but  here  I  had  been  anticipated  by  a  Frenchman.    The  colonel, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  93 

indeed,  lay  there,  stiff  enough,  but  his  sword  was  gone.  I  was 
preparing  to  return,  when  I  encountered,  not  a  dead,  but  a 
living  enemy. 

"Qui  vive  ]"  said  a  low  voice. 

"Atiglois,  bete  !"  answered  I,  in  a  low  tone  ;  and  added,  "mais 
les  corsairs  ne  se  hattent  pas." 

"Cestvrai"  said  he;  growling  "  Ion  soir"  he  was  soon  out  of 
sight.  I  scrambled  back  to  the  castle,  gave  the  countersign  to 
the  sentinel,  and  showed  my  new  great  coat  with  a  vast  deal  of 
glee  and  satisfaction  ;  some  of  my  comrades  went  on  the  same 
sort  of  expedition,  and  were  rewarded  with  more  or  less 
success. 

In  a  few  days,  the  dead  bodies  on  the  breach  were  nearly 
denuded  by  nightly  visitors  ;  but  that  of  the  colonel  lay 
respected  and  untouchec*:  The  heat  of  the  day  had  blackened 
it,  and  it  was  now  deprived  of  all  its  manly  beauty,  nothing 
remained  but  a  loathsome  corpse.  The  rules  of  war,  as  well  as 
of  humanity,  demanded  tlie  honourable  interment  of  the  remains 
of  this  hero  :  and  our  captain,  who  was  the  very  flower  of 
chivalry,  desired  me  to  stick  a  white  handkerchief  on  a  pike,  as 
a  flag  of  truce,  and  bury  the  bodies,  if  the  enemy  would  per- 
mit us. 

I  went  out  accordingly,  with  a  spade  and  a  pick-axe  ;  but  the 
tirailleurs  on  the  hill  began  with  their  rifles,  and  wounded  one 
of  my  men.  I  looked  at  the  captain,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  Am 
I  to  proceed  ?"  He  motioned  with  his  hand  to  go  on,  and  I 
then  began  digging  a  hole  by  the  side  of  a  dead  body,  and  the 
enemy,  seeing  my  intention,  desisted  from  firing.  I  had  buried 
several,  when  the  captain  came  out  and  joined  me,  with  a  view 
of  reconnoitering  the  position  of  the  enemy.  He  w^as  seen  from 
the  fort,  and  recognised  ;  and  his  intention  pretty  accurately 
guessed  at. 

We  were  near  the  body  of  the  colonel,  which  we  were  going 
to  inter,  when  the  captain,  observing  a  diamond  ring  on  the 
finger  of  the  corpse,  said  to  one  of  the  sailors,  "You  may  just 
as  well  take  that  off ;  it  can  be  of  no  use  to  him  now."     The 


94  FBANK   MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

man  tried  to  get  it  off,  but  tlie  rigidity  of  tlie  muscle  after 
death,  prevented  bis  moving  'it.  "  He  won't  feel  your  knife, 
poor  fellow,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  and  a  finger  more  or  less,  is 
no  great  matter  to.  him  now  :  off  with  it." 

The  sailor  began  to  saw  the  finger  joint  with  his  knife,  when 
down  came  a  twenty-four  pound  shot,  and  with  such  a  good 
dkection,  that  it  took  the  shoe  off  the  man's  foot,  and  the  shovel 
out  of  the  hand  of  another  man. 

"  In  with  him,  and  cover  him  up  !"  said  the  captain. 

We  did  so;  when  another  shot,  not  quite  so  well  directed  as  the 
first,  threw  the  dirt  in  our  faoes,  and  ploughed  the  ground  at  our 
feet.  The  captain  then  ordered  his  men  to  run  into  the  castle, 
which  they  instantly  obeyed  ;  while  he  himself  walked  leisurely 
along  through  a  shower  of  musket-balls  from  those  cursed  Swiss 
dogs,  whom  I  most  fervently  wished  ajt  the  devil,  because,  as 
an  aid-de-camp,  I  felt  bound  in  honour  as  well  as  duty  to  walk 
by  the  side  ofmy  captain,  fully  expecting  every  moment  that  a 
rifle-ball  would  have  hit  me  where  I  should  have  been  a.-^hamed 
to  show  the  scar.  I  thought  this  funeral  pace,  after  the  fuucral 
was  over,  confounded  nonsense  ;  but  my  fire-eating  captain 
never  had  run  away  from  a  Frenchman,  and  did  not  intend  to 
begin  then. 

I  was  behind  him,  making  these  reflections,  and  as  the  shot 
began  to  fly  very  thick,  I  stepped  up  alongside  of  him,  and  by 
degrees  brought  him  between  me  and  the  fire.  "  Sir,"  said  I, 
"  as  I  am  only  a  midshipman,  I  don't  care  so  much  about  honour 
as  you  do  ;  and  therefore,  if  it  makes  no  difference  to  you,  I'll 
take  the  liberty  of  getting  under  your  lee."  He  laiaghed,  and 
said,  "  I  did  not  know  you  were  liere,  for  I  meant  you  should 
have  gone  with  the  otliers  ;  but  since  you  are  out  of  your  sta- 
tion, Mr.  Mildmay,  I  will  make  that  use  of-  you  which  you  so 
ingeniously  proposed  to  make  of  me.  My  life  may  be  of  some 
importance  here  ;  but  yours  very  little,  and  another  midship- 
man can  be  had  from  the  ship  only  for  asking  ;  so  just  drop 
astern,  if  you  please,  and  do  duty  as  a  breast-work  for 
me!" 


THE    NAVAL   OFFICER.  95 

"  Certainly,  sir,"  said  I,  "  by  all  means  ;"  and  I  took  my  sta- 
tion accordingly. 

"Now,"  said  the  captain,  "if  you  are  'doubled  up,'  I  will 
take  you  on  my  shoulders  1" 

I  expressed  myself  exceedingly  obhged,  not  only  for  the 
honour  he  had  conferred  on  me,  but  also  for  that  which  he 
intended  ;  but  hoped  I  should  have  no  occasion  to  trouble 
him. 

Whether  the  enemy  took  pity  on  my  youth  and  innvcence,  or 
whether  they  purposely  missed  us,  I  cannot  say  ;  I  only  know 
I  was  very  happy  when  I  found  myself  inside  the  castle  with  a 
whole  skin,  and  should  very  readily  have  reconciled  myself  to 
any  measure  which  would  have  restored  me  even  to  the  comforts 
and  conveniences  of  a  man-of-war's  cockpit.  All  human  enjoy- 
ment is  comparative,  and  nothing  ever  convinced  me  of  it  so 
much  and  so  forcibly  as  what  took  place  at  this  memorable 
siege. 

Fortune,  and  the  well-known  cowardice  of  the  Spaniards, 
released  me  from  this  jeopardy  ;  they  surrendered  the  citadel, 
after  which  the  castle  was  of  no  use,  and  we  ran  down  to  our 
boats  as  fast  as  we  could  :  and  notwithstanding  the  very  assid- 
uous fire  of  the  watchful  tu'ailleurs  on  the  hill,  we  all  got  on 
board  without  accident. 

There  was  one  very  singular  feature  in  this  affair.  The 
Swiss  mercenaries  in  the  French  and  Spanish  service^  opposed 
to  each  other,  behaved  with  the  greatest  bravery,  and  did  their 
duty  with  unexceeded  fidelity  ;  but  being  posted  so  near,  and 
coming  so  often  in  contact  with  each  other,  they  would  cry 
truce  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  while  they  made  inquiries  after 
their  mutual  friends  ;  often  recognising  each  other  as  fathers 
and  sons,  brothers  and  near  relatives,  fighting  on  opposite  sides. 

They  would  laugh  and  joke  with  each  other,  declare  the  truce 
at  an  end,  then  load  their  muskets,  and  take  aim,  with  the  same 
indifference,  as  regarded  the  object,  as  if  they  had  been  perfect 
strangers  ;  but,  as  I  before  observed,  fighting  is  a  trade. 

From  Rosas  we  proceeded  to  join  the  admiral  off  Toulon  ; 


96  FRANK   MILDMAt  ;    OR, 

and  being  informed  that  a  battery  of  six  brass  guns,  in  the  port 
of  Silva,  would  be  in  possession  of  the  French  in  a  few  hours, 
we  ran  in,  and  anchored  within  pistol-shot  of  it.  We  lashed 
blocks  to  our  lower  mast-heads,  rove  hawsers  through  them, 
sent  the  ends  on  shore,  made  them  fast  to  the  guns,  and  hove 
off  three  of  them,  one  after  another,  by  the  capstern  ;  and  had 
the  end  of  the  hawser  on  shore,  ready  for  the  others,  when  our 
marine  videts  were  surprised  by  the  French,  driven  in,  and 
retreated  to  the  beach  with  the  loss  of  one  man  taken 
prisoner. 

Not  having  sufficient  force  on  shore  to  resist  them,  we  re- 
embarked  our  party,  and  the  French,  taking  up  a  position 
behind  the  rocks,  commenced  a  heavy  fire  of  musketry  upon  us. 
We  answered  it  with  the  same  ;  and  now  and  then  gave  them 
a  great  gun  ;  but  they  had  the  advantage  of  position,  and 
wounded  ten  or  eleven. of  our  men  from  their  elevated  stations 
behind  the  rocks.  At  sunset  this  ceased,  when  a  boat  came  off 
from  the  shore,  pulled  by  one  Spaniard  ;  he  brought  a  letter 
for  the  captain,  from  the  officer  commanding  the  French  detach- 
ment. It  presented  the  French  captain's  complhnents  to  oui"s  ; 
regretted  the  little  interruption  he  had  given  to  our  occupation; 
remarked  that  the  weather  was  cold,  and 'as  he  had  been  ordered 
off  in  a  hurry,  he  had  not  had  time  to  provide  himself  ;  and  as 
there  was  always  a  proper  feeling  among  brave  gens,  requested 
a  few  gaHons  of  rum  for  himself  and  followers. 

This  request  was  answered  with  a  polite  note  and  the  spirits 
required.  The  British  captain  hoped  the  commandant  and  the 
party  would  make  themselves  comfortable,  and  have  a  hon  repos. 
The  captain,  however,  intended  the  Frenchman  should  pay  for 
the  spirits,  though  not  in  money,  and  sent  in  the  bill  about  one 
o'clock  in  the  morning. 

All  at  that  hour  was  as  still  as  death  ;  the  French  guard  had 
refreshed  themselves,  and  were  enjoying  the  full  extent  of  our 
captain's  benediction,  when  he  observed  to  us  that  it  was  a  pity 
to  lose  the  boat  which  was  left  on  shore,  as  well  as  the  other 
brass  guns,  and  proposed  making  the  attempt  of  bringing  off 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  07 

both.  Five  or  six  of  us  stripped,  and  lowering  ourselves  into 
the  water,  very  gently  swam  ashore,  in  a  breathless  kind  of 
silence,  that  would  have  done  honour  to  a  Pawnce-Loup  Indian. 
The  water  was  very  cold,  and  at  first  almost  took  away  my 
respiration.  We  landed  under  the  battery,  and  having  first 
secured  our  boat  without  noise,  we  crept  softly  up  to  where  the 
end  of  the  hawsers  lay  by  the  side  of  the  guns,  to  which  we 
instantly  made  them  fast.  About  a  dozen  French  soldiers  were 
lying  near,  keeping  watch,  fast  asleep. 

We  might  easily  have  killed  them  all  ;  but  as  we  considered 
they  were  under  the  influence  of  our  rum,  we  abhorred  such  a 
violation  of  hospitahty.  We  helped  ourselves,  however,  to  most 
of  the  muskets  that  were  near  us,  and  very  quietly  getting  into 
the  boat,  put  ofif  and  rowed  with  two  oars  to  the  ship.  The 
noise  of  the  oars  woke  some  of  tlie  soldiers,  who,  jumping  up, 
fired  at  us  with  all  the  arms  they  had  left  ;  and  I  believe  soon 
got  a  reinforcement,  for  they  fired  both  quick  and  well ;  and, 
as  it  was  starlight,  and  we  were  naked,  our  bodies  were  easily 
seen,  so  that  the  shot  came  very  thick  about  us. 

"  Diving,"  said  I,  "  is  not  running  away  ;"  so  over  we  all 
went,  except  two.  I  was  down  like  a  porpoise,  never  rising  till 
ray  head  touched  the  ship's  copper.  I  swam  round  the  stern, 
and  was  taken  in  on  the  side  opposite  the  enemy.  My  captain, 
I  dare  say,  would  have  disdained  such  a  compromise  ;  but 
though  I  was  as  proud  as  he  was,  I  always  thought,  with  Fal- 
staff,  that  "  discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valour,"  especially 
in  a  midshipman. 

The  men  left  in  the  boat  got  safe  on  board  with  her.  The 
hands  were  all  ready,  and  the  moment  our  oars  splashed  in  the 
water  they  hove  round  cheerfully,  and  the  guns  came  galloping 
down  the  rocks  like  young  kangaroos.  They  were  soon  under 
water,  and  long  before  the  Frenchmen  could  get  a  cut  at  the 
hawsers.  They  then  fired  at  them  with  their  muskets,  in  hopes 
of  stranding  the  rope,  but  they  failed  in  that  also.  We  secured 
the  guns  on  board,  and  before  daylight  got  under  weigh,  and 
made  sail  for  the  fleet,  which  we  joined  shortly  afterwards. 

5 


98  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

I  here  learned  that  my  own  ship  had  fought  a  gallant  action 
with  an  enemy's  frigate,  had  taken  her  opponent,  but  had  suf- 
fered so  much  that  she  was  ordered  home  for  repairs,  and  had 
sailed  for  England  from  Gibraltar. 

I  had  letters  of  introduction  to  the  rear-admiral,  who  was 
second  in  command  ;  and  I  thought  under  these  circumstances, 
the  best  thing  I  could  do  would  be  to  "clean  myself,"  as  the 
phrase  used  to  be  in  those  days,  and  go  on  board  and  present 
them.  I  went  accordingly,  and  saw  the  flag-captain,  who  took 
my  letters  in  to  the  admiral,  and  brought  out  a  verbal,  and  not 
a  very  civil  message,  saying  I  might  join  the  ship  if  I  pleased, 
until  my  own  returned  to  the  station.  As  it  happened  to  suit 
my  convenience,  I  did  please  ;  and  the  manner  in  which  the 
favour  was  conferred  disburdened  my  mind  of  any  encumbrance 
of  gratitude.  The  reception  was  not  such  as  I  might  have 
expected  :  had  the  letters  not  been  from  people  of  distinction, 
and  friends  of  the  rear-admiral,  I  should  much  have  preferred 
remaining  in  the  frigate,  whose  captain  also  wished  it,  but  that 
was  not  allowed. 

To  the  flag-ship,  therefore,  I  came  ;  and  why  I  was  brought 
here  I  never  could  discover,  unless  it  was  for  the  purpose  of 
completing  a  menagerie,  for  I  found  between  sLsty  and  seventy 
midshipmen  already  assembled.  They  were  mostly  youngsters, 
followers  of  the  rear-admiral,  and  had  seen  very  little,  if  any, 
service  ;  and  I  had  seen  a  great  deal  for  the  time  I  had  beea 
afloat.  Listening  eagerly  to  my  "yarns,"  the  youthful  ardour 
of  these  striplings  kindled,  and  they  longed  to  emulate  my 
deeds.  The  consequence  was,  numerous  applications  from  the 
midshipmen  to  1)e  allowed  to  join  the  frigates  on  the  station  ; 
not  one  was  contented  in  the  flag-ship,  and  the  captain  having 
discovered  that  I  was  the  tarantula  who  had  bitten  them,  hated 
me  accordingly,  and  not  a  jot  more  than  I  hated  him. 

The  captain  Was  a  very  large,  ill-made,  broad-shouldered 
man,  with  a  lack-lustre  eye,  a  pair  of  thick  lips,  and  a  very 
unmeaning  countenance.  He  wore  a  large  pair  of  epaulets  ; 
he  was  irritable  in  his  temper  ;  and  when  roused,  which  was  frc- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  99 

queut,  was  always  violent  and  overbearing.  His  voice  was  like 
thunder,  and  when  he  launched  out  on  the  poor  midshipmen, 
they  reminded  me  of  the  trembling  bird,  which,  when  fascinated 
by  the  eye  of  the  snake,  loses  its  powers,  and  falls  at  once  into 
the  jaws  of  the  monster.  When  much  excited,  he  had  a  cus- 
tom of  shaking  his  shoulders  up  and  down,  and  his  epaulets,  ou 
these  occasions,  flapped  like  the  huge  ears  of  a  trotting 
elephant.  At  the  most  distant  view  of  his  person,  or  sound  of 
his  voice,  every  midshipman,  not  obliged  to  remahi,  fled  like 
the  land-crabs  oh  a  West  India  beach.  He  was  incessantly 
taunting  me,  and  was  sure  to  find  some  fault  or  other  with 
me,  and  sneeringly  called  me  "  one  of  your  frigate  midship- 
men." 

Irritated  by  this  unjust  treatment,  I  one  day  answered  that  I 
was  a  frigate  midshipman,  and  hoped  I  could  do  my  duty  as 
well  as  any  line-of-battle  ship  midsliipinan,  of  my  own  standing, 
in  the  service.  For  this  injudicious,  and  rather  impertinent 
remark,  I  was  ordered  aft  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  the  captain 
went  in  to  the  admiral,  and  asked  permission  to  flog  me  ;  but 
the  admiral  refused,  observing,  that  he  did  not  admire  the 
system  of  flogging  young  gentlemen  :  and  moreover,  that  in  the 
present  instance  he  saw  no  reason  for  it.  So  I  escaped  ;  but 
I  led  a  sad  life  of  it,  and  often  did  I  pray  for  the  return  of  my 
own  ship. 

Among  other  exercises  of  the  fleet,  we  used  always  to  reef 
topsails  at  sunset,  and  this  was  usually  done  by  all  the  ships  at 
the  same  moment,  waiting  the  signal  from  the  admiral  to  begin ; 
in  this  exercise  there  was  much  foolish  rivalry  ;  and  very  serious 
accidents,  as  well  as  numerous  punishments,  took  place,  in  con- 
sequence of  one  ship  trying  to  excel  another.  On  these  occa- 
sions our  captain  would  bellow  and  foam  at  the  mouth  like  a 
mad  bull,  up  and  down  the  quarter-deck. 

One  fine  evening  the  signal  was  made,  the  topsails  lowered, 
and  the  men  laying  out  on  the  yards,  when  a  poor  fellow  fell 
from  the  main-topsail  yard,  in  his  trying  to  lay  out ;  and, 
strikina;  his  shoulder  a2:ainst  the  mnin-chnnnpis,  broke  his  arm. 


100  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

I  saw  he  was  disabled,  and  could  not  swim  ;  and  perceiving  him 
sinking,  I  darted  overboard,  and  held  him  up  until  a  boat  came 
and  picked  us  up  ;  as  the  water  was  smooth,  and  there  was 
little  wind  and  the  ship  not  going  more  than  two  miles  an  hour, 
I  incurred  little  risk. 

When  I  came  on  deck  I  found  the  captain  fit  for  Bedlam,  be- 
cause the  accident  had  delayed  the  topsails  going  to  the  mast- 
head quite  as  quick  as  the  rest  of  the  fleet.  He  threatened  to 
flog  the  man  for  falling  overboard,  and  ordered  me  off  the  quar- 
ter-deck. This  was  great  injustice  to  both  of  us.  Of  all  the 
characters  I  ever  met  with,  holding  so  high  a  rank  in  the  ser- 
vice, this  man  was  the  most  unpleasant. 

Shortly  after,  we  were  ordered  to  Minorca  to  refit ;  here,  to 
my  great  joy,  I  found  my  own  ship,  and  I  "  shook  the  dust  off 
my  feet,"  and  quitted  the  flag  with  a  light  heart.  During  the 
time  I  had  been  on  board,  the  admiral  had  never  said,  "  How  do 
ye  do  ?"  to  me — nor  did  he  say,  "  Good-by,"  when  I  quitted.  In- 
deed, I  should  have  left  the  ship  without  ever  having  been  hon- 
oured with  his  notice,  if  it  had  not  happened  that  a  favourite 
pointer  of  his  was  a  shipmate  of  mine.  I  recollect  hearing  of  a 
man  who  boasted  that  the  king  had  spoken  to  him  ;  and  when 
it  was  asked  what  he  had  said,  replied,  "  He  desired  me  to  get 
out  of  the  way." 

My  intercourse  with  the  admiral  was  about  as  friendly  and 
flattering.  Pompey  and  I  were  on  the  poop.  I  presented  him 
with  a  piece  of  hide  to  gnaw,  by  way  of  pastime.  The  admi- 
ral came  on  the  poop,  and  seeing  Pompey  thus  employed,  asked 
who  gave  him  that  piece  of  hide  ?  The  yeoman  of  the  signals 
said  it  was  me.  The  admiral  shook  his  long  spy-glass  at  me, 
and  said,  "  By  G — ,  sir,  if  ever  you  give  Pompey  a  bit  of  hide 
again,  I  will  flog  you." 

This  is  all  I  have  to  say  of  the  admiral,  and  all  the  admiral 
ever  said  to  me. 


I 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  101 


CHAPTER    YIII. 

■Since  laws  were  made  for  every  degree, 

I  wonder  we  haven't  better  company  on  Tyburn  tree. 

Beggar's  Ofhui. 

While  I  was  on  board  of  this  ship,  two  poor  men  were  exe- 
cuted for  mutiny.  The  scene  was  far  more  solemn  to  me  than 
any  tiling  I  had  ever  beheld.  Indeed,  it  was  the  first  thing  of 
the  kind  I  had  been  present  at.  When  we  hear  of  executions 
on  shore,  we  are  always  prepared  to  read  of  some  foul,  atrocious 
crime,  some  unprovoked  and  unmitigated  offence  against  the 
laws  of  civilized  society,  which  a  just  and  merciful  government 
cannot  allow  to  pass  unpunished.  With  us  at  sea  there  are 
many  shades  of  difference  ;  but  that  which  the  law  of  our  ser- 
vice considers  a  serious  offence,  is  often  no  more  than  an  ebulli- 
tiou  of  local  and  temporary  feeling,  which,  in  some  cases,  might 
be  curbed,  and  in  others  totally  suppressed  by  timely  firmness 
and  conciliation. 

The  ships  had  been  a  long  time  at  sea,  the  enemy  did  not  ap- 
pear— and  there  was  no  chance  either  of  bringing  him  to  action, 
or  of  returning  into  port.  Indeed,  nothing  can  be  more  dull 
and  monotonous  than  a  blockading  cruize  "  in  the  team,"  as  we 
call  it  ;  that  is,  the  ships  of  the  line  stationed  to  watch  an 
enemy.  The  frigates  have,  in  this  respect,  every  advantage  ; 
they  are  always  employed  on  shore,  often  in  action,  and  the 
more  men  they  have  killed,  the  happier  are  the  survivors.  Some 
melancholy  ferment  on  board  of  the  flag-ship  I  was  in,  cansed 
an  open  mutiny.  Of  course  it  was  very  soon  quelled  ;  and  the 
ringleaders  having  been  tried  by  a  court-martial,  two  of  them 
were  condemned  to  be  hanged  at  the  yard-arm  of  their  own 
ship,  and  were  ordered  for  execution  on  the  following  day  but 
one. 

Our  courts-martial  are  always  arrayed  in  the  most  pompous 
manner,  and  certainly  are  calculated  to  strike  the  mind  with 


102  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

awe — even  of  a  captain  himself.  A  gun  is  fired  at  eight 
o'clock  in  the  morning  from  the  ship  where  it  is  to  be  held,  and 
a  union  flag  is  displayed  at  the  mizzen  peak.  If  the  weather  be 
fine,  the  ship  is  arranged  with  the  greatest  nicety  ;  her  decks 
are  as  white  as  snow — her  hammocks  are  stowed  with  care — 
her  ropes  are  taut — her  yards  square — her  guns  run  out — and 
a  guard  of  marines,  under  the  orders  of  a  lieutenant,  prepared 
to  receive  every  member  of  the  court  with  the  honour  due  to 
his  rank.  Before  nine  o'clock  they  are  all  assembled  ;  the 
officers  in  their  undress  uniform,  unless  an  admiral  is  to  be  tried. 
The  great  calkin  is  prepared,  with  a  long  table  covered  with  a 
green  cloth.  Pens,  ink,  paper,  prayer  books,  and  the  articles 
of  war,  are  laid  round  to  every  member. 

"  Open  the  court,"  says  the  president. 

The  court  is  opened,  and  officers  and  men  indiscriminately 
stand  around.  The  prisoners  are  now  brought  in  under  the 
charge  of  the  provost-martial,  a  master-at-arms,  with  his  sword 
drawn,  and  placed  at  the  foot  of  the  table,  on  the  left  hand  of 
the  judge-advocate.  The  court  is  sworn  to  do  its  duty  impar- 
tially, and  if  there  is  any  doubt,  to  let  it  go  in  favour  of  the 
prisoner.  Having  done  this,  the  members  sit  down,  covered,  if 
they  please. 

The  judge-advocate  is  then  sworn,  and  the  order  for  the 
court-martial  read.  The  prisoner  is  put  on  his  trial :  if  he 
says  any  thing  to  commit  himself,  the  court  stops  him,  and 
kindly  observes,  "  We  do  not  want  your  evidence  against  your- 
self ;  we  want  only  to  know  what  others  can  prove  against  you." 
The  unfortunate  man  is  offered  any  assistance  he  may  require  ; 
and  when  tlie  defence  is  over,  the  court  is  cleared,  the  doors  are 
shut,  and  the  minutes  which  have  been  taken  down  by  the 
judge-advocate,  are  carefully  read  over,  the  credibility  of  the 
witnesses  weighed,  and  the  i)resident  puts  the  question  to  the 
youngest  member  first.     "  Proved,  or  not  proved  ?" 

All  having  given  their  answer,  if  seven  are  in  favour  of 
proved,  and  six  against,  proved  is  recorded.  The  next  ques- 
tion— if   for   mutiny   or   desertion,   or   other  capital  crime — 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  103 

"  Flogging  or  death  ?"  The  votes  are  giveu  in  the  sauio  way  : 
if  the  majority  be  for  death,  the  judge-advocate  writes  the  sen- 
tence, and  it  is  signed  by  all  the  members,  according  to  senior- 
ity, beginning  with  the  president,  and  ending  with  the  judge- 
advocate. 

Tiie  court  is  now  opened  again,  the  prisoner  brought  in,  and 
an  awful  and  deep  silence  prevails.  The  members  of  the  court 
all  put  their  hats  on,  and  are  seated  ;  every  one  else,  excc2)t 
the  provost-marshal,  is  uncovered.  As  soon  as  the  judge- 
advocate  has  read  the  sentence,  the  prisoners  are  delivered  to 
the  custody  of  the  provost-marshal,  by  a  warrant  from  the  pre- 
sident, and  he  has  charge  of  them  till  the  time  for  the  execution 
of  the  sentence. 

About  three  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  I  received  a  message 
from  one  of  the  prisoners,  saying,  he  wished  much  to  speak  with 
me.  I  followed  the  master-at-arms  down  to  the  screened  cabin 
in  the  gun-room,  wiiere  the  men  were  confined  with  their  legs  in 
irons.  These  irons  consist  of  one  long  bar  and  a  set  of  shackles. 
The  shackles  fit  the  small  part  of  the  leg,  just  above  the  ancle; 
and,  having  an  eye  on  each  end  of  thcni,  they  receive  the  leg. 
The  end  of  the  bar  is  then  passed  through,  and  secured  with  a 
padlock.  I  found  the  poor  fellows  sitting  on  a  shot-box.  Their 
little  meal  lay  before  them  untouched  ;  one  of  them  cried  bit- 
terly ;  the  other,  a  man  of  the  name  of  Strange,  possessed  a 
great  deal  of  equanimity,  although  evidently  deeply  affected. 
This  man  had  been  pretty  well  educated  in  youth,  but  having 
taken  a  wild  and  indolent  turn,  had  got  into  mischief,  and  to 
save  himself  from  a  severe  chastisement,  had  run  away  from  his 
friends,  and  entered  on  board  a  man-of-war.  In  this  situation 
he  had  found  time,  in  the  intervals  of  duty,  to  read  and  to 
think :  he  became,  in  time,  sullen,  and  separated  himself  from 
the  occasional  merriment  of  his  messmates  ;  and  it  is  not 
improbable  that  this  moody  temper  had  giveu  rise  to  the 
mutinous  acts  for  which  he  was  to  suffer. 

This  man  now  apologised  for  the  liberty  he  had  taken,  and 
said  he  would  not  detain  me  long. 


104  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  You  see,  sir,"  said  he,  "  that  my  poor  friend  is  quite  over- 
come with  the  horror  of  his  situation  ;  uor  do  I  wonder  at  it. 
He  is  very  different  from  the  hardened  malefactors  that  are 
executed  on  shore;  Ave  are  neither  of  us  afraid  to  die:  but  such  a 
death  as  this,  Mr.  Mildmay — to  be  hung  up  hke  dogs,  an  exam- 
ple to  the  fleet,  and  a  shame  and  reproach  to  our  friends — this 
wrings  our  hearts  !  It  is  this  consideration,  and  to  save  the 
feelings  of  my  poor  mother,  that  I  have  sent  for  you.  I  saw 
you  jump  overboard  to  save  a  poor  fellow  from  drowning  ;  so 
I  thought  you  would  not  mind  doing  a  good  turn  for  another 
unfortunate  sailor.  I  have  made  my  will,  and  appointed  you 
my  executor  ;  and  with  this  power  of  attorney  you  will  receive 
all  my  pay  and  prize-money,  which  I  will  thank  you  to  give  my 
dear  mother,  whose  address  you  will  find  written  here.  My 
motive  for  this  is,  that  she  may  never  learn  the  history  of  ray 
death.  You  can  tell  her  that  I  died  for  my  country's  good, 
which  is  very  true,  for  I  acknowledge  the  justness  of  my  sen- 
tence, and  own  that  a  severe  example  is  wanting.  It  is  eleven 
years  since  I  was  in  England  ;  I  have  served  faithfully  the. 
whole  of  that  time  ;  nor  did  I  ever  misbehave  except  in  this 
one  instance.  I  think  if  our  good  king  knew  my  sad  story,  he 
would  be  merciful  :  but  God's  will  be  done  !  Yet,  if  I  had  a 
wish,  it  would  be  that  the  enemy's  fleet  woiild  come  out,  and 
that. I  might  die  as  I  have  lived,  defending  ray  country.  But 
Mr.  Mildmay,  I  have  one  very  important  question  to  ask  you — 
do  you  believe  that  there  is  such  a  thing  as  a  fatnre  state  ?" 

"  Most  surely,"  said  I ;  "  though  we  all  live  as  if  we  believe 
there  was  no  such  thing  :  but  why  do  you  doubt  it  ?" 

"  Because,"  said  the  poor  fellow,  "  when  I  was  an  officer's 
servant  I  was  one  day  tending  the  table  in  the  ward-room,  and 
I  heard  the  commander  of  a  sloop-of-war,  who  w^as  dining  there 
with  his  son,  say  that  it  was  all  nonsense — that  there  was  no 
future  state,  and  the  Bible  was  a  heap  of  lies.  I  have  never 
been  happy  since." 

I  told  him  that  T  was  extremely  sorry  that  any  officer  should 
have  used  such  expressions  at  all,  particularly  before  him  ;  that 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  105 

I  was  incapable  of  restoring  his  luind  to  Its  proper  state  ;  Init 
that  I  should  recoranieud  his  immediately  sending  for  the  chap- 
lain, who,  I  had  no  doubt,  would  give  him  all  the  comfort  he 
could  desire.  He  thanked  me  for  this  advice,  and  profited  by 
it,  as  he  assured  me  in  his  last  moments. 

"  And  now,  sir,"  said  he,  "  let  me  give  you  a  piece  of  advice. 
When  you  are  a  captain,  as  I  am  very  sure  you  will  be,  do 
uot  worry  your  men  into  mutiny  by  making  what  is  called  a 
smart  ship.  Cleanliness  and  good  order  are  what  seamen  like  ; 
but  niggling,  polishing,  scraping  iron  bars  and  ring-bolts,  and 
the  like  of  that,  a  sailor  disUkes  more  than  a  flogging  at  the 
gang-way.  If,  in  reefing  topsails,  you  happen  to  be  a  minute 
later  than  another  ship,  never  mind  it,  as  long  as  your  sails  are 
well  reefed,  and  fit  to  stand  blowing  weather.  Many  a  sail  is 
split  by  bad  reefing,  and  many  a  good  sailor  has  lost  his  life  by 
thiit  foolish  hurry  which  has  done  incredible  harm  hi  the  navy. 
What  can  be  more  cruel  or  unjust  than  to  flog  the  last  man  ofl" 
the  yard  ?  seeing  that  he  is  necessarily  the  most  active,  and 
cannot  get  in  without  the  imminent  danger  of  breaking  his 
neck  ;  and,  moreover,  that  one  man  must  be  last.  Depend 
upon  it,  sir,  *  that  nothing  is  well  done  which  is  done  in  a  hurry.' 
But  I  have  kept,  you  too  long.  God  bless  you,  sir  ;  remember 
my  poor  mother,  and  be  sure  you  meet  me  on  the  forecastle  to- 
morrow morning." 

The  fatal  morning  came.  It  was  eight  o'clock.  The  gun 
fired — the  signal  for  punishment  flew  at  our  mast-head.  The 
poor  men  gave  a  deep  groan,  exclaiming,  "  Lord  have  mercy 
upon  us  ! — our  earthly  career  and  troubles  are  nearly  over  !" 
The  master-at-arms  came  in,  unlocked  the  padlock  at  the  end  of 
the  bars,  and,  slipping  off  the  shackles,  desired  the  marine  sen- 
tinels to  conduct  the  prisoners  to  the  quarter-deck. 

Here  was  a  scene  of  solemnity  which  I  hardly  dare  attempt 
to  describe.  The  day  was  clear  and  beautiful  ;  the  top-gallant 
yards  were  crossed  on  board  of  all  the  ships  ;  the  colours  were 
flying  ;  the  crews  were  all  dressed  in  white  trousers  and  blue 
jackets,  and  hung  in  clusters,  like  bees,  on  the  side  of  the  rig- 


106  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

giiig  facing  our  ship  ;  a  guard  of  marines,  under  arms,  was 
placed  along  each  gang-way,  but  on  board  of  our  ship  they 
were  on  the  quarter-deck.  Two  boats  from  each  ship  lay  off 
upon  their  oars  alongside  of  us,  with  a  lieutenant's  and  a  cor- 
poral's guard  in  each  with  fixed  bayonets.  The  hands  were  all 
turned  up  by  the  boatswain  and  his  mates  with  a  shrill  whistle, 
and  calling  down  each  hatchway,  "  All  hands  attend  punish- 
ment !" 

You  now  heard  the  quick  trampling  of  feet  up  the  ladders, 
but  not  a  word  was  spoken.  The  prisoners  stood  on  the  mid- 
dle of  the  quarter-deck,  while  the  captain  read  the  sentence  of 
the  court-martial,  and  the  order  from  the  commander-in-chief 
for  the  execution.  The  appropriate  prayers  and  psalms  having 
been  read  by  the  chaplain,  with  much  feeling  and  devotion,  the 
poor  men  were  asked  if  they  were  ready  ;  they  both  replied  in 
the  affirmative,  but  each  requested  to  have  a  glass  of  wine, 
which  was  instantly  brought.  They  drank  it  oif,  bowing  most 
respectfully  to  the  captain  and  officers. 

The  admiral  did  not  appear,  it  not  being  etiquette  ;  but  the 
prisoners  desired  to  be  kindly  and  gratefully  remembered  to 
him  ;  they  then  begged  to  shake  hands  with  the  captain  and 
all  the  officers,  which  having  done,  they  asked  permission  to 
address  the  ship's  company.  The  captain  ordered  them  all  to 
come  aft  on  the  top  and  quarter-deck.  The  most  profound 
silence  reigned,  and  there  was  not  an  eye  but  had  a  tear  in  it. 

William  Strange,  the  man  who  had  sent  for  me,  then  said, 
in  a  clear  and  audible  tone  of  voice,  "  Brother  sailors,  attend  to 
the  last  words  of  a  dying  man.  We  are  brought  here  at 
the  instigation  of  some  of  you  who  are  now  standing  in  safety 
among  the  crowd  ;  you  have  made  fools  of  us,  and  we  are 
become  the  victims  to  the  just  vengeance  of  tlie  laws.  Had  you 
succeeded  in  the  infamous  design  you  contemplated,  what 
would  have  been  the  consequences  ?  Ruin,  eternal  ruin,  to 
yourselves  and  to  your  families  ;  a  disgrace  to  your  country, 
and  the  scorn  of  those  foi'eigners  to  whom  you  proposed 
delivering  up  the  ship.     Thank  (iod  you  did  not  succeed.     Let 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  107 

our  fate  be  a  warning  to  you  ;  and  endeavour  to  show  by  your 
future  acts  your  deep  contrition  for  the  past.  Now,  sir," 
turning  to  the  captain,  "  we  are  ready." 

This  beautiful  speech  from  the  mouth  of  a  common  sailor 
must  as  much  astonish  the  reader  as  it  then  did  the  captain  and 
officers  of  the  ship.  But  Strange,  as  I  have  shown,  was  no 
common  man  ;  he  had  had  the  advantage  of  education,  and, 
like  many  of  the  ringleaders  at  the  mutiny  of  the  Nore,  was  led 
iuto  tlie  error  of  refusing  to  obey,  from  the  conscious  feeling  that 
he  was  born  to  command. 

The  arms  of  the  prisoners  were  then  pinioned,  and  the  chap- 
lain led  the  way,  reading  the  funeral  service  ;  the  master-at- 
arms,  wit  h  two  marine  sentinels,  conducted  them  along  the  star- 
board gangways  to  the  forecastle  ;  here  a  stage  was  erected  on 
either  side,  over  the  cathead,  with  steps  to  ascend  to  it  ;  a  tail- 
block  was  attached  to  the  boom  iron,  at  the  outer  extremity  of 
each  fore-yard-arra,  and  through  this  a  rope  was  rove,  one 
end  of  which  came  down  to  the  stage.  The  other  was  led 
along  the  yard  into  the  cat-harpings,  and  thence  down  upon 
the  main  deck.  A  gun  was  primed  and  ready  to  fire,  on  the 
fore  part  of  the  ship,  directly  beneath  the  scalfold. 

I  attended  poor  Strange  to  the  very  last  moment ;  he  begged 
me  to  see  that  the  halter,  which  was  a  piece  of  line,  like  a 
clothes'  line,  was  properly  made  fast  around  his  neck,  for 
he  luid  known  men  suffer  dreadfully  from  the  want  of  this  pre- 
caution. A  white  caj)  was  placed  on  the  head  of  each  man, 
and  when  both  mounted  the  platform,  the  cap  was  drawn  ovej* 
their  eyes.  They  shook  hands  with  me,  with  their  messmates, 
and  with  the  chaplain,  assuring  him  that  they  died  happy  ;  and 
confident  in  the  hopes  of  redemption.  They  then  stood  still, 
while  the  yard  ropes  were  fixed  to  the  halter  by  a  toggle 
in  the  running  noose  of  the  latter  ;  the  other  eud  of  the  yard- 
ropes  were  held  by  some  twenty  or  thirty  men  on  each  side  of 
the  main-deck,  where  two  lieutenants  of  the  ship  attended. 

All  being  ready,  the  captain  waved  a  white  handkerchief, 
the  gun  fired,  and  in  an   instant,  the  poor  fellows  were  seen 


108  ■  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

swinging  at  either  yard-arm.  They  had  on  bkie  jackets  and 
white  trousers,  and  were  remarkably  fine-looking  young  men. 
They  did  not  appear  to  suffer  any  pain,  and  at  the  expiration 
of  an  hour,  the  bodies  were  lowered  down,  placed  in  coffins,  and 
sent  on  shore  for  interment. 

On  my  arrival  in  England,  nine  months  after,  I  acquitted 
myself  of  my  promise,  and  paid  to  the  mother  of  WilUam 
Strange  upwards  of  fifty  pounds,  for  pay  and  prize-money. 
I  told  the  poor  woman  that  her  son  had  died  a  Christian,  and 
had  fallen  for  the  good  of  his  country  ;  and  having  said  this,  I 
took  a  hasty  leave,  for  fear  she  should  ask  questions. 

That  the  execution  of  a  man  on  board  of  a  ship  of  war  does 
not  always  produce  a  proper  effect  upon  the  minds  of  the 
younger  boys,  the  following  facts  may  serve  to  prove. 

There  were  two  little  fellows  on  board  the  ship,  one  was  the 
son  of  the  carpenter,  the  other  of  the  boatswain.  They  were 
both  of  them  surprised  and  interested  at  the  sight,  but  not  pro- 
portionably  shocked.  The  next  day  I  was  down  in  one  of  the 
wings,  reading  by  the  light  of  a  purser's  dip — vulgo,  a  farthing- 
candle — when  these  two  boys  came  shding  down  the  main 
hatchway  by  one  of  the  cables.  Whether  they  saw  me,  and 
thought  I  would  not  'peach,  or  whether  they  supposed  I  was 
asleep,  I  cannot  tell  ;  but  they  took  their  seats  on  the  cables, 
in  the  heart  of  the  tier,  and  for  some  time  appeared  to  be 
in  earnest  conversation.  They  had  some  articles  folded  up  in  a 
dirty  check  shirt  and  pocket  handkerchief ;  they  looked  up 
at  the  battens,  to  which  the  hammocks  are  suspended,  and 
producing  a  long  rope-yarn,  tried  to  pass  it  over  one  of  them  ; 
but  unable  to  reach,  one  boy  climbed  on  the  back  of  the  otlier, 
and  efi'ectcd  two  purposes,  by  reeving  one  end  of  the  line, 
and  bringing  it  down  to  the  cables  again.  They  next  unrolled 
the  shirt,  and,  to  my  surprise,  took  out  the  boatswain's  kitten, 
about  three  months  old  ;  its  fore  paws  were  tied  behind  its 
back,  its  hind  feet  were  tied  togethei',  and  a  fishing  lead 
attached  to  them  :  a  piece  of  white  rag  was  tied  over  its  head 
as  a  cap. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  109 

It  was  now  pretty  evident  what  the  fate  of  poor  puss  was 
likely  to  be,  and  why  the  lead  was  made  fast  to  her  feet.  The 
rope-yarn  was  tied  round  her  neck  ;  they  each  shook  one  of  her 
paws,  and  pretended  to  cry.  One  of  the  urchins  held  in  his 
hand  a  fife,  into  which  he  poured  as  much  flour  as  it  would 
hold,  out  of  the  handkerchief,  the  other  held  the  end  of  the 
rope-yarn  :  every  ceremony  was  gone  through  that  they  could 
think  of. 

"  Are  you  ready  ?"  said  the  executioner,  or  he  that  held  the 
line. 

"  All  ready,"  replied  the  boy  with  the  fife. 

"  Fire  the  gun  !"  said  the  hangman. 

The  boy  applied  one  end  of  the  fife  to  his  mouth,  blew  out  all 
the  flour,  and  in  this  humble  imitation  of  the  smoke  of  a  gun, 
poor  puss  was  run  up  to  the  batten,  where  she  hung  till  she 
was  dead.  I  am  ashamed  to  say  I  did  not  attempt  to  save  the 
kitten's  life,  although  I  caused  her  foul  murder  to  be  revenge  i 
by  the  cat. 

After  the  body  had  hung  a  certain  time,  they  took  it  down, 
and  buried  it  in  the  shot-locker  ;  this  was  an  indictable  offence, 
as  the  smell  would  have  proved,  so  I  lodged  the  information  ; 
the  body  was  found,  and  as  the  facts  were  clear,  the  law  took 
its  course,  to  the  great  amusement  of  the  bystanders,  who  saw 
the  brats  tied  upon  a  gun,  and  well  flogged. 

The  boatswain  eat  the  kitten,  first,  he  said,  because  he  had 
"lamed"  to  eat  cats  in  Spain;  secondly,  because  she  had 
not  died  a  natural  death  (I  thought  otherwise);  and  his  last 
reason  was  more  singular  than  either  of  the  others  :  he  had 
seen  a  picture  in  a  church  in  Spain,  of  Peter's  vision  of  the 
animals  let  down  in  the  sheet,  and  there  was  a  cat  among 
them  :  observing  an  alarm  of  skei)ticism  in  my  eye,  he  thought 
proper  to  confirm  his  assertion  with  an  oath. 

"  Might  it  not  have  been  a  rabbit  ?"  said  I. 

"  Rabbit  I  sir  ;  d — n  me,  think  I  didn't  know  a  cat  from  a 
rabbit  ?  Why  one  has  got  short  ears  and  long  tail,  and  t'other 
has  got  wicee  iccrsec,  as  we  call  it." 


110  FBANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

A  grand  carnival  masquerade  was  to  be  given  at  Minorca,  in 
honour  of  the  English,  and  the  place  chosen  for  the  exhibition 
was  a  church  ;  all  which  was  perfectly  consistent  with  the 
Roman  faith.  I  went  in  the  character  of  a  fool,  and  met  many 
brother  officers  there.  It  was  a  comical  sight  to  see  the  ano- 
malous groups  stared  at  by  the  pictures  of  the  Virgin  Mary 
and  all  the  saints,  whose  shrines  were  lit  up  for  the  occasion 
with  wax  tapers.  The  admiral,  rear-admiral,  and  most  of  the 
captains  and  officers  of  the  fleet  were  present ;  the  place  was 
about  a  mile  from  the  town. 

Having  hired  a  fool's  dress,  I  mounted  that  very  appropriate 
animal — a  donkey,  and  set  off  amidst  the  shouts  of  a  thousand 
dirty  vagabonds.  On  my  arrival  I  began  to  show  off  in  sum- 
mersaults, leaps,  and  all  kinds  of  practical  jokes.  The  manner 
in  which  I  supported  the  character  drew  a  little  crowd  around 
me.  I  never  spoke  to  an  admiral  or  captain  unless  he  addressed 
me  first  ;  and  then  I  generally  sold  him  a  bargain.  Being  very 
well  acquainted  with  the  domestic  economy  of  the  ships  on  the 
station,  a  martinet  asked  me  if  I  would  enter  for  his  ship. 
"  No,"  said  I,  "  you  would  give  me  three  dozen  for  not  lashing 
up  my  hammock  properly."  "  Come  with  me,"  said  another  : 
"No,"  said  I,  "your  bell-rope  is  too  short — you  cannot  reach 
it  to  order  another  bottle  of  wine  before  all  the  officers  have 
left  your  table."  Another  promised  me  kind  treatment  and 
plenty  of  wine.  "  No,"  said  I,  "in  your  ship  I  should  be  coals 
at  Newcastle  ;  besides  your  coffee  is  too  weak,  your  steward 
only  puts  one  ounce  into  six  cups." 

These  hits  afforded  a  good  deal  of  mirth  among  the  crowd, 
and  even  the  admiral  himself  honoured  me  with  a  smile.  I 
bowed  respectfully  to  his  lordship,  who  merely  said-^— "  What 
do  you  want  of  me,  fool  ?"  "  Oh,  nothing  at  all,  my  lord,"  said 
I  ;  I  have  only  a  small  favour  to  ask  of  you."  "  What  is  that  ?" 
said  the  admiral.  "  Ouly  to  make  me  a  captain,  my  lord." 
"  Oh,  no,"  said  the  admiral,  "we  never  make  fools  captains." 
"  No  1"  said  I,  clapping  my  arms  akimbo,  in  a  very  impertinent 


THE    XAVAT,    OFFICER.  Ill 

manner  ;  "  then  that,  I  sujipose,  is  a  new  regulation.  How 
long  has  the  order  in  council  been  out  ?" 

Tlie  good- humoured  old  chief  laughed  heartily  at  this  piece 
of  impertinence  ;  but  the  cajjtain,  whose  ship  I  had  so  recently- 
quitted,  was  silly  enough  to  be  oifeuded  :  he  found  me  out,  and 
went  and  complained  of  me  to  the  captain  the  next- day  ;  but 
my  captain  only  laughed  at  him,  said  he  thought  it  an  excellent 
joke,  and  invited  me  to  dinner. 

Our  ship  was  ordered  to  Gibraltar,  where  we  arrived  soon 
after  ;  and  a  packet  coming  in  from  England,  I  received  letters 
from  my  father,  announcing  the  death  of  my  dearest  mother. 
Oh,  how  I  then  regretted  all  the  sorrows  I  had  ever  caused  her  ; 
how  incessantly  did  busy  memory  haunt  me  with  all  my  mis- 
deeds, and  recall  to  mind  the  last  moment  I  had  seen  her  1  I 
never  supposed  I  could  have  regretted  her  half  so  much.  My 
father  stated  that  in  her  last  moments  she  had  expressed  the 
greatest  solicitude  for  my  welfare.  She  feared  the  career  of 
life  on  which  I  had  entered  would  not  conduce  to  my  eternal 
welfare,  however  much  it  might  promise  to  my  temporal  advan- 
tage. Her  dying  injunctions  to  me  were,  never  to  forget  the 
moral  and  religious  principles  in  which  she  had  brought  me  up; 
and  with  her  last  blessing  implored  me  to  read  my  Bible,  and 
take  it  as  my  guide  through  life. 

My  father's  letter  was  both  au  affecting  and  forcible 
appeal  ;  and  never,  in  the  whole  course  of  my  subsequent  life, 
were  my  ffeelings  so  worked  upon  as  they  were  on  that  occasion. 
I  went  to  my  hammock  with  an  aching  head  and  an  almost 
broken  heart.  A  retrospection  of  my  life  afforded  me  no  com- 
fort. The  numerous  acts  of  depravity  or  pride,  of  revenge  or 
deceit,  of  which  I  had  been  guilty,  rushed  through  my  mind,  as 
the  tempest  through  the  rigging,  and  called  me  to  the  most 
serious  and  melancholy  reflections.  It  was  some  time  before  I 
could  collect  my  thoughts  and  analyze  my  feelings  ;  but  when 
I  recalled  all  my  misdeeds — my  departure  from  that  path  of 
virtue,  so  often  and  so  clearly   laid  down  by  my  alTectionat^ 


112  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

parent — I  was  OTerwhelmed  with  grief,  shame,  and  repentance. 
I  considered  how  often  I  had  been  on  the  brink  of  eternity  ; 
and  had  I  been  cut  oif  in  my  sins,  what  would  have  been  my 
destiny  ?  I  started  with  horror  at  the  danger  I  had  escaped, 
and  looked  forward  with  gloomy  apprehension  at  those  that 
still  awaited  me.  I  sought  in  vain  among  all  my  actions  since 
I  left  my  mother's  care,  one  single  deed  of  virtue,  one  that 
sprung  from  a  good  motive.  There  was,  it  is  true,  an  outward 
gloss  and  polish  for  the  world  to  look  at ;  but  all  was  dark 
within  ;  and  I  felt  that  a  keener  eye  than  that  of  mortality 
was  searching  my  soul,  where  deception  was  worse  than  use- 
less. 

At  twelve  o'clock,  before  I  had  once  closed  my  eyes,  I  was 
called  to  relieve  the  deck,  having  what  is  called  the  middle 
watch,- z.  fi.  from  midnight  till  four  in  the  morning.  We  had, 
the  day  before  buried  a  quarter-master  nicknamed  Quid,  an 
old  seaman  who  had  destroyed  himself  by  drinking — no  very 
uncommon  case  in  his  majesty's  service.  The  corpse  of  a  man 
who  has  destroyed  his  inside  by  intemperance  is  generally  in  a 
state  of  putridity  immediately  after  death  ;  and  the  decay,  par- 
ticularly in  warm  climates,  is  very  rapid.  A  few  hours  after 
Quid's  death,  the  body  emitted  certain  effluvia  denoting  the 
necessity  of  immediate  interment.  It  was  accordingly  sewn  up 
in  a  hammock  ;  and  as  the  ship  lay  in  deep  water,  with  a  cur- 
rent sweeping  round  the  bay,  and  the  boats  being  at  the  same 
time  time  all  employed  at  the  dock-yard,  the  first-lieutenant 
caused  shot  to  be  tied  to  the  feet,  and,  having  read  the  funeral 
service,  launched  the  body  overboard  from  the  gangway,  as  the 
ship  lay  at  anchor. 

I  was  walking  the  deck,  in  no  very  happy  state  of  mind,  re- 
flecting seriously  on  parts  of  tliat  Bible,  which  for  more  than 
two  years  I  had  never  looked  into,  when  my  thoughts  wei'e 
callid  to  the  summons  which  poor  Quid  had  received,  and  the 
beauty  of  the  funeral  service  which  I  had  heard  read  over  him 
— "  I  am  the  resurrection  and  the  life."  The  moon,  which  had 
been  obscured,  suddenly  ))urst  from  a  cloud,  and  a  cry  of  horror 


1 

I 


THE    NAVAL  X)FFICER.  113 

burst  from  the  look-out  man  on  the  starboard  gangway.  I  rau 
to  inquire  the  cause,  and  found  him  in  .such  a  state  of  nervous 
agitation  that  he  could  only  say  "  Quid — Quid  !"  and  point 
with  his  finger  into  the  water. 

I  looked  over  the  side,  aud,  to  my  amazement,  there  was  the 
body  of  Quid, 

"  All  in  dreary  hammock  shrouded." 

perfectly  upright,  and  floating  with  the  head  and  shoulders 
above  water  !  A  slight  undulation  of  the  waves  gave  it  the 
appearance  of  nodding  its  head  ;  while  the  rays  of  the  moon 
enabled  us  to  trace  the  remainder  of  the  body  underneath  the 
surface.  For  a  few  moments,  I  felt  a  horror  which  I  cannot 
describe,  and  contemplated  the  object  in  awful  silence  ;  while 
my  blood  ran  cold,  and  I  felt  a  sensation  as  if  my  hair  was 
standing  on  end.  I  was  completely  taken  by  surprise,  and 
thought  the  body  had  risen  up  to  warn  me  ;  but  in  a  few 
seconds  I  regained  my  presence  of  mind,  and  I  soon  perceived 
the  origin  of  this  reappearance  of  the  corpse.  I  ordered  the 
cutter  to  be  manned,  and  in  the  mean  time,  went  down  to  in- 
form the  first-lieutenant  of  what  had  occurred.  He  laughed,  and 
said,  "  I  suppose  the  old  boy  finds  salt  water  not  quite  so  pala- 
table as  grog.  Tie  some  more  shot  to  his  feet,  and  bring  the 
old  fellow  to  his  moorings  again.  Tell  him  the  next  time  he 
trips  his  anchor,  not  to  run  on  board  of  us.  He  had  his  regu- 
lar allowance  of  prayer  :  I  gave  him  the  whole  service,  and  I 
shall  not  give  him  any  more."  So  saying,  he  went  to  sleep 
again. 

This  apparently  singular  circumstance  is  easily  accounted  for. 
Bodies  decomposing  from  putridity  generate  a  quantity  of  gas, 
wl.ich  swells  them  up  to  an  enormous  size,  and  renders  them 
buoyant.  The  body  of  this  man  was  thrown  overboard  just  as 
decomposition  was  in  progress  ;  the  shot  made  fast  to  the  feet 
were  sufficient  to  sink  it  at  the  time;  but  in  a  few  hours  after 
were  not  competent  to  keep  it  at  the  bottom,  and  it  came  up  to 
the  surface  in  that  perpendicular  position  which  I  have  described. 


114  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

The  current  in  the  bay  being  at  the  time  either  slaclc  or  irrega 
lar,  it  floated  at  the  spot  whence  it  had  been  launched  into  the 
water. 

The  cutter,  being  manned,  was  sent  with  more  shot  to  attach 
to  the  body,  and  sink  it.  When  they  attempted  to  hold  it  with 
the  boat-hook,  it  eluded  the  touch,  turning  round  and  round,  or 
bobbing  under  the  water,  and  coming  up  again,  as  if  in  sport  ; 
but  accident  saved  them  any  further  trouble  ;  for  the  bowman, 
reproached  by  the  boat's  crew  for  not  hooking  the  body,  got 
angry,  and  darting  the  spike  of  the  boat-hook  into  the  abdomen, 
the  pent-up  gas  escaped  with  a  loud  whiz,  and  the  corpse  in- 
stantly sank  like  a  stone.  Many  jokes  were  passed  on  the  occa- 
sion ;  but  I  was  not  in  humour  for  jokmg  on  serious  subjects  ; 
and  before  the  watch  was  out,  I  had  made  up  my  mind  to  go 
home,  and  to  quit  the  service,  as  I  found  I  had  no  chance  of 
obeying  my  mother's  dying  injunctions  if  I  remained  where  I 
was. 

The  next  morning  I  stated  my  wishes  to  the  captain,  not  of 
quitting  the  service,  but  of  going  home  in  consequence  of  family 
arrangements.  This  was  about  as  necessary  as  that  I  should 
make  a  pilgrimage  to  Jerusalem.  The  captain  had  been  told  of 
the  unpleasant  news  I  had  received,  and  having  listened  to  all 
I  had  to  say,  he  replied,  that  if  I  could  make  up  my  mind  to 
remain  with  him,  it  would  be  better  for  me. 

"  You  are  now,"  said  he,  "  accustomed  to  my  ways — you 
know  your  duty,  and  do  your  work  well ;  indeed,  I  have  made 
honourable  mention  of  you  to  the  Admiralty  in  my  public  letter  : 
you  know  your  own  business  best,"  (here  he  was  mistaken — he 
ought  not  to  have  parted  with  me  for  the  reasons  which  I 
offered  ;)   "  but  my  advice  to  you  is  to  stay." 

I  thanked  him — but  being  bent  and  determined  on  going 
home,  he  acceded  to  my  request  ;  gave  me  my  discharge,  and 
added  a  very  handsome  certiiicate  of  good  conduct,  far  beyond 
the  usually  prescribed  form  ;  he  also  told  me  that  if  I  chose  to 
return  to  him  he  would  keep  a  vacancy  for  me.  I  parted  with 
tlic  oHicers,  my  messmates,  and  Ihc  sliip's  company  with  regret. 


I 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  115 

I  had  been  more  tha«  three  years  with  tlieiu  ;  and  my  stormy 
comnieucemeut  had  settled  down  hito  a  quiet  and  peaceful  ac- 
knowledgment of  my  supremacy  in  the  berth ;  my  qualities  were 
such  as  to  make  me  a  universal  favourite,  and  I  was  followed 
down  the  ship's  side  with  the  hearty  good  wishes  of  all.  I  was 
pulled  iu  the  cutter  on  board  of  a  ship  of  the  line,  in  which  I 
was  ordered  to  take  my  passage  to  England. 


CHAPTER  IX. 


How  happy  could  I  be  with  either, 
Were  t'other  dear  charmer  away. 

Beqqar's  Opbba. 


Hell,  they  say,  is  paved  with  good  intentions.  If  so,  it  has 
a  much  better  pavement  than  it  deserves;  "for  the  trail  of  the 
serpent  is  over  us  all."  Then  why  send  to  hell  the  greatest 
jjroof  of  our  perfection  before  the  fall,  and  of  weakness  subse- 
quent to  it  ?  Honest  and  sincere  professions  of  amendment  must 
carry  with  them  to  the  throne  of  grace  a  strong  recommendation, 
even  if  we  are  again  led  astray  by  the  allurements  of  sense 
and  the  snares  of  the  world.  At  least,  our  tears  of  contrition 
and  repentance,  our  sorrow  for  the  past,  and  our  firm  resolves 
for  the  future,  must  have  given  "  joy  in  heaven,"  and  conse- 
quently cannot  have  been  converted  into  pavement  for  the 
infernal  regions. 

Pleasure  and  pain,  in  youth,  are,  for  the  most  part,  transient 
impressions,  whether  they  arise  from  possession  or  loss  of  worldly 
enjoyment,  or  from  a  sense  of  having  done  well  or  ill  in  our 
career.  The  excitement,  though  strong,  is  not  durable  ; — and 
thus  it  was  with  me.  I  had  not  been  more  than  four  days  on 
board  the  ship  of  the  line  in  which  I  took  my  passage  to  Eng- 
land, when  I  felt  my  spirits  buoyant,  and  my  levity  almost 
amountino;  to  delirium.   'The  hours  of  rettection  were  at  fii-st 


116  FRANK    MTLDMAY  ;    OR, 

shortened,  and  then  dismissed  entirely.  Jhe  general  mirth  of 
my  new  shipmates,  at  the  thoughts  of  ouce  more  revisiting  their 
dear  native  laud — the  anticipation  of  indulging  in  the  sensual 
worship  of  Bacchus  and  Venus,  the  constant  theme  of  discourse 
among  the  midshipmen;  the  loud  and  senseless  applause  bestowed 
on  the  coarsest  ribaldry— these  all  had"  their  share  in  destroying 
that  religious  frame  of  mind  in  which  I  had  parted  from  my 
first  captain,  and  seemed  to  awaken  me  to  a  sense  of  the  folly  I 
had  been  guilty  of  in  quitting  a  ship,  where  I  was  not  only  at 
the  head  of  my  mess,  but  in  a  fair  way  for  promotion.  I  con- 
sidered that  I  had  acted  the  part  of  a  madman,  and  had  agahi 
begun  to  renew  my  career  of  sin  and  of  folly,  a  little,  and  but 
a  little,  sobered  by  the  recent  event. 

We  arrived  in  England  after  the  usual  passage  from  the 
Rock.  I  consented  to  pass  two  days  at  Portsmouth,  with  my 
new  companions,  to  revisit  our  old  haunts,  and  to  commit  those 
excesses  which  fools  and  knaves  applauded  and  partook  of,  at 
my  expense,  leaving  me  full  leisure  to  repent,  after  we  separated. 
I,  however,  did  muster  resolution  enough  to  pack  my  trunk  ; 
and  after  an  extravagant  supper  at  the  Fountain,  retired  to  bed 
intoxicated,  and  the  next  morning,  with  an  aching  head,  threw 
myself  into  the  coach  and  drove  off  for  Loudon.  A  day  of  much 
hilarity  is  generally  succeeded  by  one  of  depression.  This  is  fair 
and  natural  ;  we  draw  too  largely  on  our  stock,  and  squander 
our  enjoyment  like  our  money,  leaving  us  the  next  day  with  low 
spirits  and  a  lower  purse. 

A  stupid  dejection  succeeded  the  boisterous  mirth  of  the 
over-niglit.  I  slumbered  in  a  corner  of  the  coach  till  about 
one  o'clock,  when  we  reached  Godalming,  where  I  alighted, 
took  a  slight  refreshment,  and  resumed  my  seat.  As  we  drove 
along,  I  had  more  leisure,  and  was  in  a  fitter  frame  of  mind 
to  review  my  past  conduct  since  I  had  quitted  my  ship  at 
Gibraltar,  My  self-exanunation,  as  usual,  produced  no  satis- 
factory results,  I  perceived  that  the  example  of  bad  company 
had  swept  away  every  trace  of  good  resolution  which  I  had 
made  on  the  death  of  my  motlier.    .1  saw,  witli  grief,  that 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  lit 

• 

I  had  no  dependence  on  myself ;  I  had  forgotten  all  my  good 
iutuntious,  and  the  firm  vows  of  amendment  with  wliich  I 
had  bound  myself,  and  had  yielded  to  the  first  temptation 
which  came  in  my  way. 

In  vain  did  I  call  up  every  black  and  threatening  clout' 
of  domestic  sorrow^  which  was  to  meet  me  on  my  return  home 
— the  dreadful  vacuum  occasioned  by  my  mother's  death — 
the  grief  of  my  father — my  brothers  and  sisters  in  deep  mourn- 
ing, and  the  couch  on  which  I  had  left  the  best  of  parents, 
when  I  turned  away  my  thoughtless  head  from  her  in  the 
anguish  of  her  grief.  I  renewed  my  promises  of  amendment, 
and  felt  some  secret  consolation  in  doing  so. 

When  I  arrived  at  my  fatlier's  door,  the  servant  who  let 
me  in  greeted  me  with  a  loud  and  hearty  welcome.  I  ran 
into  the  drawing-room,  where  I  found  that  my  brothers  and 
sisters  had  a  party  of  children  to  spend  the  evening  with 
them.  They  were  dancing  to  the  music  of  a  piano,  played 
on  by  my  aunt,  while  my  father  sat  in  his  arm-chair,  in  high 
good  humour. 

This  was  a  very  different  scene  from  what  I  had  expected. 
I  was  prepared  for  a  sentimental  and  affecting  meeting  ;  and 
my  feelings  were  all  worked  up  to  their  full  bearing  for  the 
occasion.  Judge,  then,  of  the  sudden  revulsion  in  my  mind, 
Avhen  I  found  mu"th  and  good  humour  where  I  expected  tears 
and  lamentations.  It  had  escaped  my  recollection,  that  al- 
though the  death  of  my  mother  was  an  event  new  to  me, 
it  had  happened  six  months  before  I  had  heard  of  it ;  and, 
consequently,  with  them,  had  given  way  to  time.  I  was 
astonished  at  their  apparent  want  of  feeling  ;  while  they  gazed 
with  surprise  at  the  sight  of  me,  and  the  symbols  of  wo  dis- 
played in  my  equipment. 

^fy  father  welcomed  me  with  surprise  ;  asked  where  my 
ship  was,  and  what  had  brought  her  home.  The  fact  was, 
that  in  my  sudden  determination  to  return  to  England,  I 
had  spared  myself  the  trouble  of  writing  to  make  known 
my  intentions  ;  and,  indeed,  if  I  had  written,  I  should  have 


118  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

arrived  as  sooq  as  my  letter,  unless  (which  I  ought  to  have 
done),  I  had  written  on  my  own  arrival  at  Portsmouth,  instead 
of  throwing  away  my  time  in  the  very  worst  species  of  dissi- 
pation. Unable,  therefore,  in  the  presence  of  many  witnesses, 
to  give  my  father  that  explanation  which  he  had  a  right  to 
expect,  I  suffered  greatly  for  a  time  in  his  opinion.  He  very 
naturally  supposed  that  some  disgraceful  conduct  on  my  part 
was  the  cause  of  my  sudden  return.  His  brow  became  clouded, 
and  his  mind  seemed  occupied  with  deep  reflectiou. 

This  behaviour  of  my  father,  together  with  the  continued 
noisy  mirth  of  my  brothers  and  sisters,  gave  me  considerable 
pain.  I  felt  as  if,  in  the  sad  news  of  my  mother's  death,  I 
had  over-acted  my  part  in  the  feeling  I  had  shown,  and  the 
sacrifice  I  had  made  in  quitting  my  ship.  On  explaining  to 
my  father,  in  private,  the  motives  of  my  conduct,  I  was  not 
successful.  He  could  not  believe  that  my  mother's  death  was 
the  sole  cause  of  my  return  to  England.  I  stood  many  firm 
and  angry  interrogations  as  to  the  possible  good  which  could 
accrue  to  me  by  quitting  my  ship.  I  showed  him  the  captain's 
handsome  certificate,  which  only  mortified  him  the  more.  In 
vain  did  I  plead  my  excess  of  feeling.  He  replied  with  an 
argument  that  I  feel  to  have  been  unanswerable — that  I 'had 
quitted  my  ship  when  on  the  very  pinnacle  of  favour,  and 
in  the  road  to  fortune.  "  And  what,"  said  he,  "  is  to  become 
of  the  navy  and  the  country,  if  every  officer  is  to  return 
home  when  he  receives  the  news  of  the  death  of  a  relation  ?" 

In  proportion  as  my  father's  arguments  carried  conviction, 
they  did  away,  at  the  same  time,  all  the  good  impressions 
of  my  mother's  dying  injunction.  If  her  death  was  a  matter 
of  so  little  importance,  her  last  words  were  equally  so  ;  and 
from  that  moment  I  ceased  to  think  of  either.  My  father's 
treatment  to  me  was  now  very  different  from  what  it  had 
ever  been  during  my  mother's  life-time.  My  requests  were 
harshly  refused,  and  I  was  lectured  more  as  a  child  than 
as  a  lad  of  eighteen,  who  had  seen  so  much  of  the  world. 

Coldness  on  his  part  was  met  by  a  spirit  of  resistance  on 


THE    XATAL    OFFICER.  119 

mine.  Pride  came  in  to  my  assistance.  A  dispute  arose  one 
evening,  at  the  finale  of  which  I  gave  him  to  undorstam'i 
that  if  I  could  not  live  quietly  under  his  roof,  I  would  quit 
it.  He  calmly  recommended  me  to  do  so.  Little  supposing 
that  I  should  have  taken  his  advice,  I  left  the  room,  bang- 
ing the  door  after  me,  packed  up  a  few  changes  of  Imen, 
and  took  my  departure,  unperceived  by  any  one,  with  my 
bundle  on  my  shoulder,  and  about  sixteen  shillings  in  my 
pocket. 

Here  was  great  mismanagement  on  the  part  of  my  father, 
and  still  greater  on  miue.  He  was  anxious  to  get  me  afloat 
again,  and  I  had  no  sort  of  objection  to  going  ;  but  his  im- 
patience and  my  pride  spoiled  all.  Reflection  soon  came  to 
me,  but  came  too  late.  Night  was  fast  approaching  ;  I  had 
no  house  over  my  head,  and  my  exchequer  was  in  no  very 
flourishiug  condition. 

I  had  walked  six  miles  from  my  father's  house,  when  I  began 
to  tire.  It  became  dark,  and  I  had  no  fixed  plan.  A  gentle-, 
man's  carriage  came  by  ;  I  took  up  a  position  in  the  rear 
of  it,  and  had  ridden  foiir  miles,  when,  as  the  carriage  was 
slowly  dragging  up  a  hill,  I  was  discovered  by  the  parties 
inside :  and  the  postillion,  who  had  dismounted  and  been 
informed  of  it,  saluted  me  with  two  or  three  smart  cuts  with 
his  whip,  intimating  that  I  was  of  no  use,  but  rather  an  en- 
cumbrance which  could  be  dispensed  with. 

My  readers  know  that  I  had  long  since  adopted  the  motto 
of  our  northern  neighbours,  nemo  me,  etc.  ;  so  waiting  very 
quietly  till  the  driver  had  mounted  his  horses,  at  the  top 
of  the  hill,  that  he  might  be  more  at  my  mercy,  I  discharged 
a  stone  at  his  head,  which  caused  him  to  vacate  his  seat, 
and  fall  under  his  horse's  belly.  The  animals,  frightened  at 
his  fall,  turned  short  round  to  the  right,  or  they  would  have 
gone  over  him,  and  ran  furiously  down  the  hill.  The  post- 
boy, recovering  his  legs,  followed  his  horses  without  bestow- 
ing a  thought  on  the  author  of  the  mischief ;  and  I  made 
all  the  haste  T  could  in  the  opposite  direction,  perfectly  in- 


120  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

different  as  to  the  fate  of  the  parties  inside  of  the  carriage, 
for  I  still  smarted  with  the  blows  I  had  received. 

"  Fools  and  unkind,"  muttered  I,  looking  back,  as  they  disap- 
peared at  the  bottom  of  the  hill,  with  frightful  velocity,  "  you 
are  rightly  served.  I  was  a  trespasser,  'tis  true,  but  a  civil  re- 
quest would  have  had  all  the  effect  you  required — that  of  inducing 

me  to  get  down;  but  a  whip  to  me "    And  with  my  blood 

still  boiling  at  the  recollection,  I  hastily  pursued  my  journey. 

In  a  few  minutes  I  reached  the  little  town  of  — ,  the  lights  of 
which  were  visible  at  the  time  the  horses  had  turned  down  the 
hill  and  ran  away.  Entering  the  first  inii  I  came  to,  I  found 
the  large  room  below  occupied  by  a  set  of  strolling  players, 
who  had  just  returned  from  a  successful  performance  of  Romeo 
and  Juliet  ;  and,  from  the  excitement  among  them,  it  was  easy 
to  perceive  that  their  success  had  been  fully  equal  to  their  ex- 
pectations. They  were  fourteen  in  number,  seated  round  a 
table,  not  indifferently  covered  with  the  good  things  of  this  life ; 
they  were  clad  in  theatrical  costume,  which,  with  the  rapid 
circulation  of  the  bottle,  gave  the  whole  scene  an  air  of  roman- 
tic freedom  calculated  to  interest  the  mind  of  a  thoughtless  half- 
pay  midshipman. 

Being  hungry  after  my  vfalk,  I  determined  to  join  the  party 
at  supper,  which  being  a  talk  (Vhote  was  easily  effected.  One  of 
the  actresses,  a  sweet,  little,  well-proportioned  creature,  with 
large  black  eyes,  was  receiving,  with  apparent  indifference,  the 
compliments  of  the  better  sort  of  bumpkins  and  young  farmers  of 
the  neighbourhood.  In  her  momentary  and  occasional  smiles,  she 
discovered  a  beautiful  set  of  small,  Avhite  teeth;  but  when  she  re- 
sumed her  pensive  attitude,  I  was  sensible  of  an  enchanting  air  of 
melancholy,  which  deeply  interested  me  in  favour  of  this  poor 
girl,  who  was  evidently  in  a  lower  situation  in  life  than  that  for 
which  she  had  been  educated.  The  person  wlio  sat  nearest  to  her 
vacated  his  seat  as  soon  as  he  found  his  attentions  were  thrown 
away.  I  instantly  took  possession  of  the  place,  and  observing  the 
greatest  respect,  entered  at  once  into  conversation  with  her. 

Whether  she  was  pleased  with  my  address  and  language,  as 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  121 

being  superior  to  what  she  was  usually  compelled  to  listen  to, 
or  whether  she  was  flattered  by  my  assiduous  attention,  I  luiow 
not;  but  she  gradually  unbent,  and  became  more  animated; 
showing  great  natural  talent  and  a  highly  cultivated  mind;  so 
that  I  was  every  moment  more  astonished  to  find  her  in  such  a 
situation. 

Our  conversation  had  lasted  a  considerable  time;  and  I  had 
just  made  a  remark,  to  which  she  had  not  replied,  apparently 
struggling  with  concealed  emotion,  when  we  were  interrupted 
by  a  carriage  driving  up  to  the  door,  and  cries  of  "  Help!  help!" 
I  instantly  quitted  the  side  of  my  new  acquaintance,  and  flew  to 
answer  the  signal  of  distress. 

A  gentleman  in  the  carriage  was  supporting  a  young  lady  in 
his  arms,  to  all  appearance  lifeless.  With  my  assistance,  she 
was  speedily  removed  into  the  house,  and  conveyed  to  a  bed- 
room. A  surgeon  was  sent  for,  but  none  was  to  be  had;  the 
only  practitioner  of  the  town  being  at  that  moment  gone  to  at- 
tend one  of  those  cases  which,  according  to  Mr.  Malthus,  are 
much  too  frequent  for  the  good  of  the  country.  I  discovered 
that  the  carriage  had  been  overturned,  and  that  the  young  lady 
bad  been  insensible  ever  since. 

There  was  no  time  to  be  lost;  I  knew  that  immediate  bleed- 
ing was  absolutely  necessary.  I  had  acquired  thus  much  of 
surgical  knowledge  in  the  course  of  my  professional  duties.  I 
stated  my  opinion  to  the  gentleman ;  and  although  my  practice 
had  been  very  slight,  oS"ered  my  services  to  perform  the  opera- 
tion. This  offer  was  accepted  with  thanks  by  the  grateful  father, 
for  such  I  found  he  was.  With  my  sharp  penknife  I  opened  a 
vein  in  one  of  the  whitest  arms  I  ever  beheld.  After  a  few 
moments  chafing,  the  blood  flowed  more  freely;  the  pulse  indi- 
cated returning  animation;  a  pair  of  large  blue  eyes  opened 
suddenly  upon  me  like  a  masked  battery  ;  and  so  alarmingly  sus- 
ceptible was  I  of  the  tender  passion,  that  I  quite  foi-got  the 
little  actress  whom  I  had  left  at  the  supper-table,  and  who,  a  few 
minutes  before,  had  occupied  my  whole  thoughts  and  attention. 

Having  succeeded  in  restoring  the  fair  patient  to  conscious- 

6 


122  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

ness,  I  prescribed  a  warm  bed,  some  tea,  and  careful  watching. 
My  orders  were  pmictnally  obeyed ;  I  then  quitted  the  apart- 
ment of  my  patient,  and  began  to  ruminate  over  the  hurried  and 
singular  events  of  the  day. 

I  had  scarcely  had  time  to  decide  in  my  own  mind  on  the 
respective  merits  of  my  two  rival  beauties,  when  the  surgeon 
arrived;  and,  being  ushered  into  the  sick  room,  declared  that 
the  patient  had  been  treated  with  skill,  and  that,  in  all  proba- 
bility, she  owed  her  life  to  my  presence  of  mind.  "  But  give  me 
leave  to  ask,"  said  the  doctor  addressing  the  father,  "  how  the 
accident  happened  ?"  The  gentleman  replied,  that  a  scoundrel 
having  got  up  behind  the  carriage,  had  been  flogged  off  by  the 
postillion;  and,  in  revenge,  had  thrown  a  stone,  which  knocked 
the  driver  off  his  horses;  they  took  fright,  turned  round  and 
ran  away  down  the  hill  towards  their  own  stables  ;  and  after 
running  five  miles,  upset  the  carnage  against  a  post,  "  by 
which  accident,"  said  he,  "my  poor  daughter  was  nearly 
kUled." 

"What  a  villain!"  said  the  doctor. 

"  Villain,  indeed,"  echoed  I,  and  so  I  felt  I  was.  I  turned  sick  at 
the  thoughts  of  what  my  ungoverned  passion  had  done;  and  my 
regret  was  not  a  little  increased  by  the  charms  of  my  lovely  vic- 
tim ;  but  I  soon  recovered  from  the  shock,  particularly  when  I 
saw  that  no  suspicion  attached  to  me.  I  therefore  received  the 
praises  of  the  father  and  the  doctor  with  a  becoming  diffidence ; 
and,  with  a  hearty  shake  of  the  hand  from  the  grateful  parent, 
was  wished  a  good  night,  and  retired  to  my  bed. 

As  I  stood  before  the  looking-glass,  laying  my  watch  and  ex- 
hausted pnrse  on  the  dressing-table,  and  leisurely  untying  my 
cravat,  I  could  not  forbear  a  glance  of  approbation  at  what  I 
thought  a  very  handsome  and  a  very  impudent  face:  I  solilo- 
quized on  the  events  of  the  day,  and,  as  usual,  found  the  sum- 
ming-up, very  much  against  me.  "  This,  then,  sir,"  said  I,  "  is 
your  road  to  repentance  and  reform.  You  insult  your  father; 
quit  his  house;  get  up  like  a  vagabond  behind  a  gentleman's 
carriage;  are  flogged  off,  break  the  ribs  of  an  honest  man,  who 


THK    NAVAL    OFFICER.  123 

has  a  wife  and  family  to  supjiort  out  of  his  hard  earnings — are 
the  occasion  of  a  carriage  being  overturned,  and  very  nearly 
cause  the  death  of  an  amiable  girl !  And  all  this  mischief  iu  the 
short  space  of  six  hours,  not  to  say  a  word  of  your  intentions 
towards  the  little  actress,  which  I  presume  are  none  of  the  most 
honourable.     Where  is  all  this  to  end  ?" 

"  At  the  gallows,"  said  I  in  reply  to  myself;  "  the  more  proba- 
bly, too,  as  my  finances  have  no  means  of  improvement,  except 
by  a  miracle  or  highway  robbery.  I  am  in  love  with  two  girls, 
and  have  only  two  clean  shirts;  consequently  there  is  no  pro- 
portion between  the  demand  and  the  supply." 

With  this  medley  of  reflections  I  fell  asleep.  I  was  awoke 
early  by  the  swallows  twittering  at  the  windows;  and  the  first 
question  which  was  agitated  in  my  brain  was,  what  account  I 
should  give  of  myself  to  the  father  of  the  young  lady,  when  in- 
terrogated by  him,  as  I  most  certainly  should  be.  I  had  my 
choice  between  truth  and  falsehood:  the  latter  (such  is  the  force 
of  habit),  I  think  carried  it  hollow;  but  I  determined  to  leave 
that  point  to  the  spur  of  the  moment,  and  act  according  to  cir- 
cumstances. 

My  meditations  were  interrupted  by  the  chambermaid,  who, 
tapping  at  my  door,  said  she  came  to  tell  me,  "  that  the  gentle- 
man that  belonged  to  the  young  lady  that  I  was  so  kind  to,  was 
waiting  breakfast  for  me." 

The  thought  of  sitting  at  table  with  the  dear  creature  whose 
brains  I  had  so  nearly  spilled  upon  the  road  the  night  before, 
quite  overcame  me;  and  leaving  the  fabric  ef  my  history  to 
chance  or  to  inspiration,  I  darted  from  my  bed-room  to  the 
parlour,  where  the  stranger  awaited  me.  He  received  me  with 
great  cordiality,  again  expressed  his  obligations,  and  informed 
me  that  his  name  was  Somerville,  of , 

"  I  had  some  faint  recollection  of  having  heard  the  name  men- 
tioned by  my  father,  and  was  endeavouring  to  recall  to  mind  on 
what  occasion,  when  Mr.  Somerville  interrupted  me,  by  saying, 
that  he  hoped  he  should  have  the  pleasure  of  knowing  the  name 
of  the  young  gentleman  who  had  conferred  such  an  obligation 


1 24  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

upon  him.  I  answered  that  my  name  was  Mildmay ;  for  I  had  no 
time  to  tell  a  lie. 

"  I  should  be  happy  to  think,"  said  he,  "  that  you  were  the 

son  of  my  old  friend  and  school  fellow,  Mr.  Mildmay,  of ; 

but  that  cannot  well  be,"  said  he,  "  for  he  had  only  two  sons — 
on«  at  college — the  other  as  brave  a  sailor  as  ever  lived,  and 
now  in  the  Mediterranean;  but  perhaps  you  are  some  relation  of 
his !" 

He  had  just  concluded  this  speech,  and  before  I  had  time  to 
reply  to  it,  the  door  opened,  and  Miss  Somerville  entered.  We 
have  all  heard  a  great  deal  about  "love  at  first  sight;"  but  I 
contend  that  the  man  who  would  not,  at  the  very  glimpse  of 
Emily  Somerville,  have  ft,llen  desperately  in  love  with  her,  could 
have  had  neither  heart  nor  soul.  If  I  thought  her  lovely  when 
she  lay  in  a  state  of  insensibility,  what  did  I  think  of  her  when 
her  form  had  assumed  its  wonted  animation,  and  her  cheeks  their 
natural  colour  ?  To  describe  a  perfect  beauty  never  was  my 
forte.  I  can  only  say,  that  Miss  Somerville,  as  far  as  I  am  a 
judge,  united  in  her  person  all  the  component  parts  of  the  finest 
specimen  of  her  sex  in  England;  and  these  were  joined  in  such 
harmony  by  the  skilful  hand  of  nature,  that  I  was  ready  to 
kneel  down  and  adore  her. 

As  she  extended  her  white  hand  to  me,  and  thanked  me  for 
my  kindness,  I  was  so  taken  aback  with  the  sudden  appearance 
and  address  of  this  beautiful  vision,  that  I  knew  not  what  to  say. 
I  stammered  out  something,  but  have  no  recollection  whether 
it  was  French  or  English.  I  lost  my  presence  of  mind,  and  the 
blushes  of  conscious  guilt  on  my  face  at  that  moment,  might 
have  been  mistaken  for  those  of  unsophisticated  innocence.  That 
these  external  demonstrations  are  often  confounded,  and  that 
such  was  the  case  on  the  present  occasion,  there  can  be  no  doubt. 
My  embarrassment  was  ascribed  to  that  modesty  ever  attendant 
on  real  worth. 

It  has  been  said  that  true  merit  blushes  at  being  discovered; 
but  I  have  lived  to  see  merit  that  could  not  blush,  and  the  want 
of  it  that  could,  while  the  latter  has  marched  off  with  all  the 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  125 

honours  due  to  the  former.  The  bhish  that  burned  on  my  cheek, 
at  that  moment,  would  have  gone  far  to  have  condemned  a  cri- 
minal at  the  Old  Bailey;  but  in  the  countenance  of  a  handsome 
young  man,  was  received  as  the  unfailing  marks  of  a  "  pure  in- 
genuous soul." 

I  had  been  too  long  at  school  to  be  ashamed  of  wearing 
laurels  I  had  never  won;  and  having  often  received  a  flogging 
which  I  did  not  deserve,  I  thought  myself  equally  well  entitled 
to  any  advantages  which  the  chances  of  war  might  throw  in  my 
way;  so  having  set  my  tender  conscience  at  rest,  I  sat  myself 
down  between  my  new  mistress  and  her  father,  and  made  a  most 
delightful  breibkfast.  Miss  Somerville,  although  declared  out 
of  danger  by  the  doctor,  was  still  languid,  but  able  to  continue 
her  journey;  and  as  they  had  not  many  miles  farther  to  go,  Mr. 
Somerville  proposed  a  delay  of  an  hour  or  two. 

Breakfast  ended,  he  quitted  the  room  to  arrange  for  their 
departure,  and  I  found  myself  tete-a-tete  with  the  young  lady. 
During  this  short  absence,  I  fouud  out  that  she  was  an  only  daugh- 
ter, and  that  her  mother  was  dead ;  she  again  introduced  the  sub- 
ject of  my  family  name,  and  T  found  also  that  before  Mrs.  Somer- 
ville's  death,  my  father  had  been  on  terms  of  great  intimacy  with 
Emily's  parents.  I  had  not  replied  to  Mr.  Somerville's  question. 
A  similar  one  was  now  asked  by  his  daughter;  and  so  closely 
was  I  interrogated  by  her  coral  lips  and  searching  blue  eyes, 
that  I  could  not  tell  a  lie.  It  would  have  been  a  horrid  aggra- 
vation of  guilt,  so  I  honestly  owned  that  I  was  the  sou  of  her 
father's  friend,  Mr.  Mildmay. 

"  Good  heaven!"  said  she,  "  why  had  you  not  told  my  father 
so  ?" 

"  Because  I  must  have  said  a  great  deal  more;  besides,"  added 
I,  making  her  my  confidant,  "  I  am  the  midshipman  whom  Mr. 
Somerville  supposes  to  be  in  the  Mediterranean,  and  I  ran  away 
from  my  father's  house  last  night." 

Although  I  was  as  concise  as  possible  m  my  story,  I  had  not 
finished  before  Mr.  Somerville  came  in. 


126  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  Oil,  papa,"  said  the  daughter,  "  this  young  gentleman  is 
Frank  Mildmay,  after  all." 

I  gave  her  a  reproachful  glance  for  having  betrayed  my 
secret;  her  father  was  astonished — she  looked  confused,  and  so 
did  I. 

Nothing  now  remained  for  me  but  an  open  and  candid  confes- 
sion, taking  especial  care,  however,  to  conceal  the  part  I  had 
acted  in  throwing  the  stone.  Mr.  Somerville  reproved  me  very 
sharply,  which  I  thought  was  taking  a  great  liberty;  but  he 
softened  it  down  by  adding,  "  If  you  knew  how  dear  the  inter- 
ests of  your  family  are  to  me,  you  would  not  be  surprised  at  my 
assuming  the  tone  of  a  parent."  • 

I  looked  at  Emily,  and  pocketed  the  affront. 

"  And  Frank,"  pursued  he,  "  when  I  tell  you,  that,  although 
the  distance  between  your  father's  property  and  mine  has,  in 
some  measure,  interrupted  our  long  intimacy,  I  have  been  watch- 
ing your  career  in  the  service  with  interest,  you  will,  perhaps, 
take  my  advice,  and  return  home.  Do  not  let  me  have  to  re- 
gret that  one  to  whom  I  am  under  such  obligations  should  be 
too  proud  to  acknowledge  a  fault.  I  admire  a  high  spirit  in  a 
good  cause  ;  but  towards  a  parent  it  can  never  be  justified.  It 
may  be  unpleasant  to  you  ;  but  I  will  prepare  the  way  by  writ- 
ing to  your  father  :   and  do  you.  stay  here  till  you  hear  from 

me.     I  should  wish  for  the  pleasure  of  your  company  at 

Hall  ;  but  your  father  has  prior  claims  ;  and  I  hardly  need  tell 
you,  that  once  restored  and  reconciled  to  him,  I  expect  as  long . 
a  visit  as  you  can  afford  to  pay  me.  Think  on  what  I  have 
said,  and,  in  the  meantune,  as  I  dare  say  your  finances  are  not 
very  flourishing," — (thinks  I,  you  are  a  witch  !) — "  allow  me  to 
leave  this  ten-pound  note  in  your  hands."  This  part  of  his 
request  was  much  more  readily  complied  with  than  the  other. 

He  left  the  room,  as  he  said,  to  pay  the  bill  ;  but  I  believe, 
it  was  to  give  his  fair  daughter  an  opportuuity  of  trying  the 
effect  of  her  eloquence  on  my  proud  si)irit,  which  gave  no  great 
promise  of  concession.     A  few  minutes  with  her,  did  more  than 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  12T 

both  the  fathers  could  have  effected,  the  most  powerful  motive 
to  submission  being  the  certainty  that  I  could  not  visit  at  her 
father's  house  uutil  a  reconciliation  had  taken  place  between  me 
and  mine.  I  therefore  told  her  that,  at  her  solicitation,  I  would 
submit  to  any  liberal  terms. 

This  being  agreed  to,  her  father  observed  that. the  carriage 
was  at  the  door,  shook  hands  with  me,  and  led  his  lovely  daugh- 
ter away,  whose  last  nod  and  parting  look  confirmed  all  my 
good  resolutions. 

Reader,  whatever  you  may  think  of  the  trifling  incidents  of 
the  last  twenty-four  hours,  you  will  find  that  they  involved  con- 
sequences of  vast  importance  to  the  writer  of  this  memoir. 
Pride  induced  me  to  quit  my  father's  house  ;  revenge  stimulated 
me  to  an  act  which  brought  the  heroine  of  this  story  on  the 
stage,  for  such  will  Emily  Somerville  prove  to  be.  But,  alas  I 
by  what  fatal  infatuation  was  Mr.  Somerville  induced  to  leave 
me  my  own  master,  at  an  inn,  with  ten  pounds  in  my  pocket, 
instead  of  taking  me  with  him  to  his  own  residence,  and  keep- 
ing mc  till  he  had  heard  from  my  father  ?  The  wisest  men  often 
err  in  points  which  at  first  appear  of  trivial  importance,  but 
which  prove  in  the  sequel  to  have  been  fraught  with  evil. 

Left  to  myself,  I  ruminated  for  some  time  on  what  had  oc- 
curred ;  and  the  beautiful  Emily  Somerville  having  vanished 
from  ray  sight,  I  recollected  the  little  fascinating  actress  from 
whom  I  had  so  suddenly  parted  on  the  preceding  night  ;  still  I 
must  say,  that  I  was  so  much  occupied  with  the  charms  of  her 
successor,  that  I  sought  the  society  of  the  youthful  Melpomene 
more  with  a  view  to  beguile  the  time,  than  from  any  serious 
prepossession. 

I  found  her  in  the  large  room,  where  they  were  all  assembled. 
She  received  me  as  a  friend,  and  evinced  a  partiality  which  flat- 
tered my  vanity.  In  three  days,  I  received  a  letter  from  Mr. 
Somerville,  enclosing  one  from  my  father,  whose  only  requost 
was,  that  I  would  return  home,  and  meet  him  as  if  nothing  un- 
pleasant had  occurred.  This  I  determined  to  do  ;  but  I  had 
now  so  long  been  in  the  company  of  Eugenia  (for  that  was  the 


128  PRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

actress's  name,)  that  I  could  not  very  easily  part  with  her.  Tu 
fact,  I  was  desperately  in  love,  after  my  fashion  ;  and  though, 
perhaps,  I  could  not  with  truth  say  the  same  of  her,  yet  that 
she  was  partial  to  my  company  was  evident.  I  had  obtained 
from  her  the  history  of  her  life,  which,  in  the  following  chapter, 
I  shall  give  in  her  own  words. 


CHAPTER    X. 

She  i3  Tirtuous,  though  bred  behind  the  scenes  ;  and,  whatever  pleasure  she  may  feel 
in  seeing  herself  applauded  on  the  stage,  she  would  much  rather  pass  for  a  modest  girl 
than  for  a  good  actress. 

Gil  Blas. 

"  My  father,"  said  Eugenia,  "  was  at  the  head  of  this  com- 
pany of  strolling  players  ;  my  mother  was  a  young  lady  of  re- 
spectable family,  at  a  boarding-school.  She  took  a  fancy  to  my 
father  in  the  character  of  '  Rolla  ;'  and,  being  of  course  deserv- 
edly forsaken  by  her  friends,  became  a  prima  donna.  I  was  the 
only  fruit  of  this  connexion,  and  the  only  solace  of  my  mother 
in  her  affliction  ;  for  she  bitterly  repented  the  rash  step  she  had 
taken. 

"  At  five  years  old,  my  father  proposed  that  I  should  take 
the  character  of  Cupid,  in  the  opera  of  Telemaque.  To  this 
my  mother  strongly  objected,  declaring  that  I  never  should  go 
upon  the  stage  ;  and  this  created  a  disunion,  which  was  daily 
embittered  by  my  father's  unkind  treatment,  both  of  my  mother 
and  myself.  I  never  left  her  side,  for  fear  of  a  kick,  which  I 
was  sure  to  receive  when  I  had  not  her  protection.  She  em- 
ployed all  her  spare  time  in  my  instruction,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  folly  she  had  been  guilty  of,  she  was  fully  competent  to 
the  task. 

"  When  I  was  seven  years  old,  a  relation  of  my  mother's  died, 
and  bequeathed  fifteen  thousand  pounds,  to  be  equally  divided 
between  her  and  her  two  sifters,  securing  iny  mother's  portion 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  129 

in  Ruch  a  manner  as  to  prevent  my  father  having  any  control 
over  it.  As  soon  as  my  mother  obtained  this  information,  she 
quitted  my  father,  who  was  too  prudent  to  spend  either  his  time 
or  his  money  in  pursuit  of  her.  Had  lie  been  aware  of  her 
sudden  change  of  fortune,  he  might  have  acted  differently. 

"We  arrived  in  London,  took  possession  of  the  property, 
which  was  all  in  the  funds  ;  and  then,  fearing  my  father  might 
gain  information  of  her  wealth,  iTiy  mother  set  off  for  France, 
taking  me  with  her.  There  I  passed  the  happiest  days  of  my 
life  ;  my  mother  spared  no  pains,  and  went  to  considerable  ex- 
pense in  my  education.  The  best  masters  were  provided  for 
me  in  singing,  dancing,  and  music  ;  and  so  much  did  I  profit  by 
their  instruction,  that  I  was  very  soon  considered  a  pretty  spe- 
cimen of  my  countrywomen,  and  much  noticed  accordingly. 

"  From  France  we  went  to  Italy,  where  we  remained  two 
years,  and  where  my  vocal  education  was  completed.  My  poor 
mother  lived  all  this  time  on  the  principal  of  her  fortune,  con- 
cluding it  would  last  for  ever.  At  last  she  was  taken  ill 
of  a  fever  and  died.  This  was  about  a  year  ago,  when  I  was 
only  sixteen.  Delirious  many  days  before  her  death,  she  could 
give  me  no  instructions  as  to  my  future  conduct,  or  where  to 
apply  for  resources.  I  happened,  however,  to  know  her  banker 
in  London,  and  wrote  to  him  immediately  ;  in  answer,  He  in- 
formed me  that  a  balance  of  forty  pounds  was  all  that  remained 
in  his  hands. 

"  I  believe  he  cheated  me,  but  I  could  not  help  it.  My 
spirits  were  not  depressed  at  this  news  :  I  sold  all  the  furni- 
ture; paid  the  little  debts  to  the  trades  people,  and  with  nine 
pounds  in  my  pocket,  took  my  place  in  the  diligence,  and  set 
off  for  London,  where  I  arrived  without  accident.  I  read  in 
the  newspaper,  at  the  inn,  that  a  provincial  company  was  in 
want  of  a  young  actress  for  genteel  comedy.  My  mother's 
original  passion  for  the  stage  had  never  left  her  ;  and  during 
our  stay  in  France,  we  often  amused  ourselves  with  la  petite 
comedie,  in  which  I  always  took  a  part. 

"  Without  resources,  I  thought  a  precarious  mode  of  obtain. 

6+ 


130  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

ing  a  liveliliood  was  better  than  a  vicious  one,  and  determined 
to  try  my  fortune  on  the  stage  ;  so  I  ordered  a  hack,  and 
drove  to  the  office  indicated.  I  felt  a  degree  of  comfort,  when 
I  discovered  that  my  father  was  the  advertising  manager, 
although  I  was  certain  he  would  never  recognise  me.  I  was 
engaged  by  the  agent,  the  bargain  was  approved  of,  and  in  a 
day  or  two  after,  was  ordered  to  a  country  town,  some  miles 
from  the  metropolis. 

"  I  arrived;  my  father  did  not  know  me,  nor  did  I  wish  that 
he  should,  as  I  did  not  intend  to  remain  long  in  the  company. 
In  short,  I  aspired  to  the  London  boards  ;  but  aware  that  I 
wanted  practice,  without  which  it  would  have  been  useless  to 
have  offered  myself,  I  accepted  this  situation  without  delay, 
and  applied  with  great  assiduity  to  the  study  of  my  profession. 
My  father,  I  found,  had  married  again  ;  and  my  joining  the 
company  added  nothing  to  his  domestic  harmony,  my  step-mo- 
ther becoming  immoderately  jealous  of  me  ;  but  I  took  good 
care  to  keep  my  own  secret,  and  never  exposed  myself  for  one 
moment  to  any  suspicion  of  my  character,  which  hitherto, 
thank  Heaven,  has  been  pure,  though  I  am  exposed  to  a  thou- 
sand temptations,  and  beset  by  the  actors,  to  become  the  wife 
of  one,  or  the  mistress  of  an  other. 

"  Among  those  who  proposed  the  latter,  was  my  honoured 
father,  to  whom,  on  that  account,  I  was  one  day  on  the  point 
of  revealing  the  secret  of  my  birth,  as  the  only  means  of  saving 
myself  from  his  importunities.  He  was  at  last  taken  ill,  and 
died,  only  three  months  ago,  not  before  I  had  completed  my 
engagements,  and  obtained  an  increased  salary  of  one  guinea 
and  a  half  per  week.  It  is  ray  intention  to  quit  the  company 
at  the  expiration  of  my  present  term,  which  will  take  place  in 
two  months,  for  I  am  miserable  here,  although  I  am  quite  at  a 
loss  to  know  what  will  be  my  future  destination." 

In  return  for  her  confidence,  I  imparted  as  much  of  my  history 
as  I  thought  it  necessary  for  her  to  know.  I  became  deeply 
fascinated — I  forgot  Miss  Somerville,  and  answered  my  father's 
letter  respectfully  and  kindly.     He  informed  me  that  he  had 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  131 

procured  my  name  to  be  entered  on  the  books  of  the  guard- 
ship,  at  Spithcad;  but,  that  I  might  gain  time  to  loiter  by  the 
side  of  Eugenia,  I  begged  permission  to  join  my  ship  without 
returning  home,  alleging,  as  a  reason,  that  delay  would  soften 
down  any  asperity  of  feeling  occasioned  by  the  late  fracas. 
This,  in  his  answer,  he  agreed  to,  enclosing  a  handsome  remit- 
tance ;  and  the  same  post  brought  a  pressing  invitation  from 
Mr.  Somerville  to  come  to Hall. 

My  little  actress  informed  me  that  the  company  would  set 
out  in  two  days  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Portsmouth  ;  and, 
as  I  found  they  would  be  more  than  a  fortnight  in  travelling,  I 
determined  to  accept  the  invitation,  and  quit  her  for  the  pre- 
sent. I  had  been  more  than  a  week  in  her  society.  At  part- 
ing, I  professed  my  admiration  and  love.  Silence  and  a  starting 
tear  were  her  only  acknowledgment.  I  saw  that  she  was  not 
displeased  ;  and  I  left  her  with  joyful  anticipations. 

But  what  did  I  anticipate,  as  I  rolled  heedlessly  along  in  the 

chaise  to Hall  ?     Sensual  gratification  at  the  expense  of 

a  poor  defenceless  orphan,  whose  future  life  would  be  clouded 
with  misery — I  could  see  my  wickedness  and  moralize  upon  it  ; 
but  the  devil  was  triumphant  within  me,  and  I  consoled  myself 
with  the  vulgar  adage,  "  Needs  must  when  the  devil  drives." 
With  this,  I  dismissed  the  subject  to  think  of  Emily,  whose 
residence  was  now  in  sight. 

I  arrived  at Hall,  was  kindly  received  and  welcomed 

by  both  father  and  daughter  ;  but  on  this  visit  I  must  not 
dwell.  When  I  reflect  on  it,  I  hate  myself  and  human  nature ! 
Could  I  be  trusted  ?  yet  I  inspired  unbounded  confidence. 
Was  I  not  as  vicious  as  one  of  my  age  could  be  ?  Yet  I  made 
them  believe  I  was  almost  perfection.  Did  I  deserve  to  be 
happy  ?  Yet  I  was  so,  and  more  so  than  I  had  ever  been 
before,  or  ever  have  been  since.  I  was  like  the  serpent  in 
Eden,  though  without  his  vile  intentions.  Beauty  and  virtue 
united  to  keep  my  passions  in  subjection.  When  they  had 
nothing  to  feed  on,  they  concealed  themselves  in  the  inmost 
recesses  of  my  bosom. 


132  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

Had  I  remained  always  with  Emily,  T  should  have  been 
reclaimed;  but  when  I  quitted  her,  I  lost  all  my  good  feelings 
and  good  resolutions  ;  not,  however,  before  the  bright  image 
of  virtue  had  lighted  up  in  my  bosom  a  holy  flame  which  has 
never  been  entirely  extinguished.  Occasionally  dimmed,  it  has 
afterwards  burned  up  with  renewed  brightness  ;  and,  as  a 
beacon-light,  has  often  guided  me  through  perils  that  might 
have  overwhelmed  me. 

Compelled  at  last  to  quit  this  earthly  paradise,  I  told  her, 
at  parting,  that  I  loved  her,  adored  her  ;  and  to  prove  that  I 
was  in  earnest,  and  that  she  believed  me,  I  obtained  a  lock  of 

her  hair.     When  I  left Hall,  it  was  my  intention  to  have 

joined  my  ship,  as  I  had  agreed  with  my  father  ;  but  the  temp- 
tation to  follow  up  my  success  with  the  fair  and  unfortunate 
Eugenia,  was  too  strong  to  be  resisted  ;  at  least  I  thought  so, 
and  therefore,  hardly  made  an  effort  to  conquer  it.  True,  I 
did,  pro  formck,  make  my  appearance  on  board  the  guard-ship, 
had  my  name  entered  on  the  books,  that  I  might  not  lose  my 
time  of  servitude,  and  that  I  might  also  deceive  my  father. 
All  this  being  duly  accomplished,  I  obtained  leave  of  absence 
from  the  first-lieutenant,  an  old  acquaintance,  who,  in  a  ship 
crowded  with  supernumerary  midshipmen,  was  but  too  happy, 
in  getting  rid  of  me  and  my  chest. 

I  hastened  to  the  rendezvous,  and  found  the  company  in  full 
activity.  Eugenia,  when  we  parted,  expressed  a  wish  that 
our  acquaintance  might  not  be  renewed.  She  feared  for  her 
own  character  as  well  as  mine,  and  very  sensibly  and  feelingly 
observed  that  my  professional  prospects  might  be  blasted  ;  but 
having  made  up  my  mind,  I  had  an  answer  for  all  her  objec- 
tions. I  presented  myself  to  the  manager,  and  requested  to  be 
admitted  into  the  company. 

Having  taken  this  step,  Eugenia  saw  that  my  attachment  was 
not  to  be  overcome  ;  that  I  was  willing  to  make  any  sacrifice 
for  her.  I  was  accepted  ;  my  salary  was  fixed  at  one  guinea 
per  week,  with  seven  shillings  extra  for  playing  the  flute.  I 
was  indebted  for  my  ready  admission  into  this  society  to  my 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  133 

voice  ;  the  manager  wanted  a  first  singer.  My  talent  in  tliis 
science  was  much  admired.  I  signed  my  agreement  the  same 
evening  for  two  months  ;  and,  being  presented  in  due  form  to 
my  brethren  of  the  buskin,  joined  the  supper  table,  where  there 
was  more  of  abundance  than  of  delicacies.  I  sat  by  Eugenia, 
whose  decided  preference  for  me  excited  the  jealousy  of 
my  new  associates.  I  measured  them  all  with  my  eye,  and 
calculated  that,  with  fair  play,  I  was  the  best  man  among 
them. 

The  play-bills  announced  the  trag-edy  of  Romeo  and  Juliet. 
I  was  to  be  the  hero,  and  four  days  were  allowed  me  to  pre- 
pare myself.  The  whole  of  that  time  was  passed  in  the  com- 
pany of  Eugenia,  who,  while  she  gave  me  unequivocal  proofs 
of  attachment,  admitted  of  no  freedom.  The  day  of  rehearsal 
arrived,  I  was  found  perfect,  and  loudly  applauded  by  the  com- 
pany. Six  o'clock  came,  the  curtain  rose,  and  sixteen  tallow 
candles  displayed  my  person  to  an  audience  of  about  one  hun- 
dred people. 

No  one  who  has  not  been  in  the  situation  can  form  any  idea 
of  the  nervous  feeling  of  a  dehvtant  on  such  an  occasion.  The 
troop,  with  the  exception  of  Eugenia,  was  of  a  description  of 
persons  whom  I  despise,  and  the  audience  mostly  clodhoppers, 
who  could  scarcely  read  or  write  ;  yet  I  was  abashed,  and  ac- 
quitted myself  badly,  until  the  balcony  scene,  when  I  became 
enlivened  and  invigorated  by  the  presenc#  and  smiles  of  my 
mistress.  In  the  art  of  love-making  I  was  at  home,  par- 
ticularly with  the  Juliet  of  that  night.  I  entered  at  once  into 
the  spirit  of  the  great  dramatist,  and  the  curtain  dropped 
amidst  thunders  of  applause.  My  name  was  announced  for  a 
repetition  of  the  play,  and  I  was  dragged  forward  before  the 
curtain,  to  thank  the  grocers,  tallow-chandlers,  cheesemonger.-^, 
and  ploughmen,  for  the  great  honour  they  had  done  me. 
Heavens  !  how  I  felt  the  degradation  ;  but  it  was  too  late. 

The  natural  result  of  this  constant,  intercourse  with  Eugenia, 
may  easily  be  anticipated.  I  do  not  attempt  to  extenuate  my 
fault — it  was  inexcusable,  and  has  brought  its  puuishmeut;  but 


134  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OK, 

for  poor,  forlorn  Eugenia  I  plead  ;  her  virtue  fell  before  my  im- 
portunity and  my  personal  appearance.  She  fell  a  victim  to 
those  unhappy  circumstances  of  which  I  basely  took  the  ad- 
vantage. 

Two  months  I  had  lived  with  her,  as  man  and  wife;  I  forgot 
my  family,  profession,  and  even  Emily.  I  was  now  upon  the 
ship's  books  :  and  though  no  one  knew  any  thing  of  me,  my 
father  was  ignorant  of  my  absence  from  my  ship — every  thing 
was  sacrificed  to  Eugenia.  I  acted  with  her,  strolled  the  fields, 
and  vowed  volumes  of  stuff  about  constancy.  When  we  played 
we  filled  the  house  ;  and  some  of  the  more  respectable  towns- 
people offered  to  introduce  us  to  the  London  boards,  but  this 
we  both  declined.  We  cared  for  nothing  but  the  society  of 
each  other. 

And  now  that  time  has  cooled  the  youthful  ardour  that  car- 
ried me  away,  let  me  do  justice  to  this  unfortunate  girl.  She 
was  the  most  natural,  unaffected,  and  gifted  person  I  ever  met 
with.  Boundless  wit,  enchanting  liveliness,  a  strong  mind,  and 
self-devotion  towards  me,  the  first,  and,  I  believe,  the  only  ob- 
ject she  ever  loved  ;  and  her  love  for  me  ceased  only  with  her 
life.  Her  faults,  though  not  to  be  defended,  may  be  palliated 
and  deplored,  because  they  were  the  defects  of  education.  Her 
infant  days  were  passed  in  scenes  of  domestic  strife,  profligacy, 
and  penury;  her  maturer  years,  under  the  guidance  of  a  weak 
mother,  were  em]iloyed  in  polishing,  not  strengthening,  the 
edifice  of  her  understanding,  and  the  external  ornaments  only 
served  to  accelerate  the  fall  of  the  fabric,  and  to  increase  the 
calamity. 

Bred  up  in  France,  and  ahnost  in  the  fervour  of  the  Kevolu- 
tion,  she  had  imbibed  some  of  its  libertine  opiuious  ;  amojig 
others,  that  marriage  was  a  civil  contract,  and  if  entered  into 
at  all,  might  be  broken  at  the  pleasure  of  either  party.  This 
idea  was  strengthened  and  confirmed  in  her  by  the  instances 
she  had  seen  of  matrimonial  discord,  particularly  in  her  own 
family.  When  two  people,  who  fancied  they  loved,  had 
);uuiid  themselves  by  an  indissoluble  knot,  they  felt  from  that 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  135 

time  the  irksomeness  of  restraint,  which  they  woukl  never  have 
felt  if  they  had  possessed  the  power  of  separation,  and  wovild 
have  lived  liappily  together,  if  they  had  not  been  compelled  to 
do  it.  "  How  long  yon,  my  dear  Frank,"  said  Eugenia  to  me 
one  day,  "  may  continue  to  love  me,  I  know  not  ;  but  the  mo- 
ment you  cease  to  love  me,  it  were  better  that  we  parted." 

These  were  certainly  the  sentiments  of  an  enthusiast  ;  but 
Eugenia  lived  long  enough  to  acknowledge  her  error,  and  to 
bewail  its  fatal  effects  on  her  peace  of  mind. 

I  was  awoke  from  this  dream  of  happiness  by  a  curious 
incident.  I  thought  it  disastrous  at  the  time,  but  am  now  con- 
vinced that  it  was  fraught  with  good,  since  it  brought  me  back 
to  my  profession,  recalled  me  to  a  sense  of  duty,  and  showed 
me  the  full  extent  of  my  disgraceful  situation.  My  father,  it 
appears,  was  still  ignorant  of  my  absence  from  my  ship,  and 
had  come  down  without  my  knowledge,  on  a  visit  to  a  friend  in 
the  neighbourhood.  Hearing  of  the  "interesting  young  man" 
who  had  acquired  so  much  credit  in  the  character  of  Apollo, 
as  well  as  of  Romeo,  he  was  persuaded  to  see  the  perfor- 
mance. 

I  was  in  the  act  of  singing  "  Pray  Goody,"  when  my  eyes 
suddenly  met  those  of  my  pajja,  who  was  staring  like  the  head 
of  a  Gorgon  ;  and  though  his  gaze  did  not  turn  me  to  stone, 
it  turned  me  sick.  I  was  stupefied,  forgot  my  part,  ran  off,  and 
left  the  manager  and  the  music  to  make  the  best  of  it.  My 
father,  who  could  hardly  believe  his  eyes,  was  convinced 
when  he  saw  my  confusion.  I  ran  into  the  dressing-room, 
where,  before  I  had  time  to  divest  myself  of  Apollo's  crown 
and  petticoat,  I  was  accosted  by  my  enraged  parent,  and  it  is 
quite  impossible  for  me  to  describe  (taking  my  costume  into 
consideration)  how  very  much  like  a  fool  I  looked. 

My  father  sternly  demanded  how  long  I  had  been  thus 
honourably  employed.  This  was  a  question  which  I  had  an- 
ticipated, and,  therefore,  very  readily  replied,  "  Only  two  or 
three  days  ;"  that  I  had  left  Portsmouth  for  what  we  called 
"  a  lark,"  and  I  thought  it  very  amusing. 


136  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  Yery  amusing  indeed,  sir,"  said  my  father;  "and  pray, 
may  I  venture  to  inquire,  without  the  fear  of  having  a  lie  told 
me,  how  long  this  '  lark,'  as  you  call  it,  is  to  continue  ?" 

"  Oh,  to-morrow,"  said  I,  "  my  leave  expires,  and  then  I 
must  return  to  my  ship." 

"  Allow  me  the  honour  of  keeping  your  company,"  said  my 
father;  "  and  I  shall  beg  your  captain  to  impose  some  little 
restraint  as  to  time  and  distance  on  your  future  excursions." 

Then  rising  in  his  tone,  he  added,  "  I  am  ashamed  of  you, 
sir;  the  son  of  a  gentleman  is  not  likely  to  reap  any  advantage 
from  the  society  of  strolling  vagabonds  and  prostitutes.  I  had 
reason  to  think  by  your  last  letters  from  Portsmouth  that  you 
were  very  differently  employed." 

To  this  very  sensible  and  parental  reproof,  I  answered,  with 
a  demure  and  innocent  countenance,  (for  I  soon  regained  my 
presence  of  mind,)  that  I  did  not  think  there  had  been  any 
harm  in  doing  that  which  most  of  the  officers  of  the  navy  did 
at  one  time  or  another,  (an  assertion,  by-the-by,  much  too  gen- 
eral;) that  we  often  got  up  plays  on  board  of  ship,  and  that  I 
wanted  to  practice. 

"  Practice,  then,  with  your  equals,"  said  my  father,  "  not  in 
company  with  rogues  and  street-walkers." 

I  felt  that  the  latter  name  was  meant  for  Eugenia,  and  was 
very  indignant ;  but  fortunately  kept  all  my  anger  within  board ; 
and,  knowing  I  was  "  all  in  the  wrong,"  allowed  my  father  to 
fire  away  without  returning  a  shot.  He  concluded  his  lecture 
by  commanding  me  to  call  upon  him  the  next  morning  at  ten 
o'clock,  and  left  me  to  change  my  dress,  and  to  regain  my  good 
humour.  I  need  not  add  that  I  did  not  return  to  the  stage 
that  night,  Ijut  left  the  manager  to  make  his  peace  with  the 
audience  in  any  way  he  thought  proper. 

When  I  informed  Eugenia  of  the  evening's  adventure,  she 
was  inconsolable  :  to  comfort  her,  I  offered  to  give  up  my 
family  and  my  profession  and  live  with  her.  At  these  words, 
Eugenia  suddenly  recollected  herself.  "  Frank,"  said  she,  "  all 
that  has  happened  is  right.     We  are  both  wrong.     I  felt  that 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  137 

I  was  too  happy,  and  shut  my  eyes  to  the  dant^or  T  dared  not 
face.  Your  father  is  a  man  of  sense;  his  object  is  to  reclaim 
you  from  inevitable  ruin.  As  for  me,  if  he  knew  of  our  con- 
nexion, he  could  only  despise  me.  He  sees  his  son  living  with 
strolling  players;  and  it  is  his  duty  to  cut  the  chain,  no  matter 
by  what  means.  You  have  an  honourable  and  distinguished 
career  marked  out  for  you;  I  will  never  be  an  obstacle  to  your 
father's  just  ambition  or  your  prosperity.  I  did  hope  for  a  hap- 
pier destiny;  but  love  blinded  my  eyes;  I  am  now  undeceived. 
If  your  father  caimot  respect  me,  he  shall  at  least  admire  the 
resolution  of  the  unhappy  Eugenia.  I  have  tenderly  loved  you, 
my  dearest  Frank,  and  never  have  loved  any  other,  nor  ever 
shall;  but  part  we  must.  Heaven  only  knows  for  how  long  a 
time.  I  am  ready  to  make  every  sacrifice  to  your  fame  and 
character — the  only  proof  I  can  give  of  my  unbounded  love  for 
you." 

I  embraced  her  as  she  uttered  these  words;  and  we  spent  a 
great  part  of  the  night  in  making  preparations  for  my  de- 
parture, arrangements  for  our  future  correspondence,  and,  if 
possible,  for  our  future  meetings.  I  left  her  early  on  the  fol- 
lowing morning;  and  with  a  heavy,  I  had  almost  said,  a  broken 
heart,  appeared  before  my  father.  He  was,  no  doubt,  aware 
of  my  attachment,  and  the  violence  of  my  passions,  and 
prudently  endeavoured  to  soothe  them.  He  received  me  affec- 
tionately, did  not  renew  the  subject  of  the  preceding  night,  and 
we  became  very  good  friends. 

In  tearing  myself  away  from  Eugenia,  I  found  the  truth  of 
the  French  adage,  "  Ce  nhst  que  la  previiere  pas  qui  coiite ;"  my 
heart  grew  lighter  as  I  increased  my  distance  from  her.  My 
father,  to  detach  my  mind  still  more  from  the  unfortunate  sub- 
ject, spoke  much  of  family  affairs,  of  my  brothers  and  sisters, 
aud  lastly  named  Mr.  Somerville  and  Emily  :  here  he  touched 
on  the  right  chord.  The  remembrance  of  Emily  revived  the 
expiring  embers  of  virtue,  and  the  recollection  of  the  pure  and 

perfect  mistress  of Hall,  for  a  time,  dismissed  the  unhappy 

Eugenia  from  my  mind.     I  told  my  father  that  I  would  engage 


138  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

never  to  disgrace  him  or  myself  any  more,  if  he  would  promise 
not  to  name  my  late  folly  to  Mr.  Somerville  or  his  daughter. 

"  That,"  said  my  father,  "  I  promise  most  readily;  and  with 
the  greater  pleasure,  since  I  see  in  your  request  the  strongest 
proof  of  the  sense  of  your  error." 

This  conversation  passed  on  our  road  to  Portsmouth,  where 
we  had  no  sooner  arrived  than  my  father,  who  was  acquainted 
with  the  port-admiral,  left  me  at  the  "  George,"  while  he 
crossed  the  street  to  call  on  him.  The  result  of  this  interview 
was,  that  I  should  be  sent  out  immediately  in  some  sea-going 
ship  with  a  "  tight  captain." 

There  was  one  of  this  description  just  about  to  sail  for  Basque 
Roads;  and,  at  the  admiral's  particular  request,  I  was  received 
on  board  as  a  supernumerary,  there  being  no  vacancies  in  the 
sliip.  My  father,  who  by  this  time  was  wide  awake  to  all  my 
wiles,  saw  me  on  board;  and  then  flattering  himself  that  I  was 
in  safe  custody,  took  his  leave  and  returned  to  the  shore.  I 
very  soon  found  that  I  was  under  an  embargo,  and  was  not  on 
any  account  to  be  allowed  leave  of  absence. 

This  was  pretty  nearly  what  I  expected;  but  I  had  my  own 
resources.  I  had  now  learned  to  laugh  at  trifles,  and  I  cared 
little  about  this  decided  step  which  his  prudence  induced  him  to 
take. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  139 


CHAPTER  XI. 

"  Our  boat  has  one  sail, 
And  tlie  lielmsinaa  u  pale; 
A  bold  pilot,  I  trow, 
Who  should  follow  us  now," 

Shouted  he. 
As  he  spoke  bolts  of  death 
Specked  therr  path  o'er  the  sea. 
"And  fear'st  thou,  and  fear'st  thou? 
And  seest  thou,  and  hear'st  thou? 
And  drive  we  not  free 
O'er  the  terrible  sea, 
I  and  thou  ?" 

Shelley. 

The  reader  may  think  I  was  over  fastidious  when  I  inform  him 
that  I  cannot  describe  the  disgust  I  felt  at  the  licentious  im- 
purity of  manners  which  I  found  in  the  midshipmen's  berth;  for 
although  my  connexion  with  Eugenia  was  not  sanctioned  by 
rL'ligion  or  morality,  it  was  in  other  respects  pure,  disinterested, 
and,  if  I  may  use  the  expression,  patriarchal,  since  it  was  un- 
sullied by  inconstancy,  gross  language,  or  drunkenness.  Vicious 
I  was,  and  I  own  it  to  my  shame;  but  at  least  my  vice  was 
refined  by  Eugenia,  who  had  no  fault  but  one. 

As  soon  as  I  had  settled  myself  in  my  new  abode,  with  all 
the  comfort  that  circumstances  would  permit,  I  wrote  a  long 
letter  to  Eugenia,  in  which  I  gave  an  exact  account  of  all  that 
had  passed  since  our  separation ;  I  begged  her  to  come  down  to 
Portsmouth  and  see  me;  told  her  to  go  to  the  "Star  and 
Garter,"  as  the  house  nearest  the  water  side,  and  consequently 
where  I  should  be  the  soonest  out  of  sight  after  I  had  landed. 
Her  answer  informed  me  that  she  should  be  there  on  the  fol- 
lowing d^y. 

The  only  difficulty  now  was  to  get  on  shore.  No  eloquence 
of  mine,  I  was  sure,  would  induce  the  first-lieutenant  to  relax 
his  Cerberus-like  guard  over  me.  I  tried  the  experiment,  how- 
ever ;  begged  very  hard  "  to  be  allowed  to  go  on  shore  to  pro- 
cure certain  articles  absolutely  necessary  to  ray  comfort." 


1 40  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"No,  no,"  said  Mr.  Talbot,  "I  am  too  old  a  hand  to  be 
caught  that  way.  I  have  my  orders,  and  I  would  not  let  my 
father  go  on  shore,  if  the  captain  ordered  me  to  keep  him  on 
board  ;  and  I  tell  you,  in  perfect  good  humour,  that  out  of  this 
ship  you  do  not  go,  unless  you  swim  on  shore,  and  that  1  do 
not  think  you  will  attempt.  Here,"  continued  he,  "  to  prove 
to  you  there  is  no  ill-will  on  my  part,  here  is  the  captain's 
note." 

It  was  short,  sweet,  and  complimentary,  as  it  related  to 
myself,  and  as  follows  : 

"  Keep  that  d d  young  scamp,  Mildmay,  on  board." 

"  Will  you  allow  me,  then,"  said  I,  folding  up  the  note,  and 
returning  it  to  him  without  any  comment,  "will  you  allow  me  to 
go  on  shore  under  the  charge  of  the  sergeant  of  marines  ?" 

"  That,"  said  he,  "  would  be  just  as  much  an  infringement  of 
my  orders  as  letting  you  go  by  yourself.  You  cannot  go  on 
shore,  sir." 

These  last  words  he  uttered  in  a  very  peremptory  manner, 
and,  quitting  the  deck,  left  me  to  my  own  reflections  and  my 
own  resources. 

Intercourse  by  letter  between  Eugenia  and  myself  was  per- 
fectly easy  ;  but  that  was  not  all  I  wanted.  I  had  promised 
to  meet  her  at  nine  o'clock  in  the  evening.  It  was  now  sunset: 
the  boats  were  all  hoisted  up  ;  no  shore-boat  was  near,  and 
there  was  no  mode  of  conveyance  but  a  la  nage,  which  Mr. 
Talbot  himself  had  suggested  only  as  proving  its  utter  imprac- 
ticability ;  but  he  did  not  know  me  half  so  well  at  that  time  as 
he  did  afterwards. 

The  ship  lay  two  miles  from  the  shore,  the  wind  was  from 
the  southwest,  and  the  tide  moving  to  the  eastward  ;  so  that, 
with  wind  and  tide  both  in  my  favour,  I  calculated  on  fetching 
South  Sea  Castle.  After  dark  I  took  my  station  in  tlie  fore- 
channels.  It  was  the  20th  of  March,  and  very  cold.  I 
undressed  myself,  made  all  my  clothes  up  into  a  very  tight 
bundle,  and  fastened  them  on  my  hat,  which  retained  its 
proper  position  ;  then,  lowering  myself  very  gently  into  the 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  141 

water,  like  another  Leauder,  I  struck  out  to  gain  the  arms  of 
my  Hero. 

Before  I  had  got  twenty  yards  from  the  ship  I  was  perceived 
by  the  sentinel,  who,  naturally  supposing  I  was  a  pressed  man 
endeavouring  to  escape,  hailed  me  to  come  back.  Not  being 
obeyed,  the  officer  of  the  watch  ordered  him  to  fire  at  me.  A 
ball  whizzed  over  my  head,  and  struck  the  water  between  my 
hands.  A  dozen  more  followed,  all  of  them  tolerably  well 
directed  ;  but  I  struck  out,  and  the  friendly  shades  of  night, 
and  increasing  distance  from  the  ship,  soon  protected  me.  A 
waterman,  seeing,  the  flashes  and  hearing  the  reports  of  the 
muskets,  concluded  that  he  might  chance  to  pick  up  a  fare. 
He  pulled  towards  me,  I  hailed  him,  and  he  took  me  in,  before 
I  had  got  half  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  ship. 

"  I  doubt  whether  you  would  ever  have  fetched  the  shore  ou 
that  tack,  my  lad,"  said  the  old  man.  "  You  left  your  ship  two 
hours  too  soon  :  you  would  have  met  the  ebb-tide  running 
strong  out  of  the  harbour  ;  and  the  first  thing  you  would  have 
made,  if  you  could  have  kept  up  your  head  above  water  would 
have  been  the  Ower's." 

While  the  old  man  was  pulling  and  talking,  I  was  shivering 
and  dressing,  and  made  no  reply  ;  but  bogged  him  to  put  me 
on  shore  on  the  first  part  of  South  Sea  Beach  he  could  land  at, 
which  he  did.  I  gave  him  a  guinea,  and  ran,  without  stopping, 
into  the  garrison,  and  down  Point  street  to  the  Star  and 
Garter,  where  I  was  received  by  Eugenia,  who,  with  great  pre- 
sence of  miad,  called  me  her  "dear,  dear  husband  I"  in  the 
hearing  of  the  people  of  the  house.  My  wet  clothes  attracted 
her  notice.  I  told  her  what  I  had  done  to  obtain  an  interview 
with  her.  She  shuddered  with  horror  ! — my  teeth  chattered 
\vith  cold.  A  good  fire,  a  hot,  and  not  very  weak  glass  of 
brandy  and  water,  together  with  her  tears,  smiles,  and  caresses, 
soon  restored  me.  The  reader  will,  no  doubt,  here  recall  to 
mind  the  less  agreeable  remedy  applied  to  me  when  1  ducked 
the  usher,  and  one  recommended  also  by  myself  in  similar  cases, 
as  having  experienced  its  good  effects  :    how  much   more  I 


142  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

deserved  it  on  this  occasion  than  the  former  one,  need  not  be 
mentioned. 

So  sweet  was  this  stolen  interview,  that  I  vowed  I  was  ready 
to  encounter  the  same  danger  on  the  succeeding  night.  Our 
conversation  turned  on  our  future  prospects  ;  and,  as  our  time 
was  short,  we  had  much  to  say. 

"Frank,"  said  the  poor  girl,  "before  we  meet  again  I  shall 
probably  be  a  mother;  and  this  hope  alone  alleviates  the  agony 
of  separation.  If  I  have  not  you,  I  shall,  at  least,  be  blessed  with 
your  image.  Heaven  grant  it  may  be  a  boy,  to  follow  the  steps 
of  his  father,  and  not  a  girl,  to  be  as  wretched  as  her  mother. 
You,  my  dear  Frank,  are  going  on  distant  and  dangerous 'ser- 
vice— dangers  increased  tenfold  by  the  natural  ardour  of  your 
mind  :  we  may  never  meet  again,  or  if  we  do,  the  period  will 
be  far  distant.  I  ever  have  been,  and  ever  wUl  be  constant 
to  you,  till  death  ;  but  I  neither  expect,  nor  will  allow  of 
the  same  declaration  on  your  part.  Other  scenes,  new  faces, 
youthful  passions,  will  combine  to  drive  me  for  a  time  from 
your  thoughts,  and  when  you  shall  have  attained  maturer  years, 
and  a  rank  in  the  navy  equal  to  your  merits  and  your  connex- 
ions, you  will  marry  in  your  own  sphere  of  society  ;  all  these 
things  I  have  made  up  my  mind  to,  as  events  that  must  take 
place.  Your  person  I  know  I  cannot  have — but  do  not,  do  not 
discard  me  from  your  mind.  I  shall  never  be  jealous  as  long 
as  I  know  you  are  happy,  and  still  love  your  unfortunate 
Eugenia.  Your  child  shall  be  no  burden  to  you  until  it  shall 
have  attained  an  age  at  which  it  may  be  put  out  in  the  world  ; 
then,  I  know  you  will  not  desert  it,  for  the  sake  of  its  mother. 
Dear  Frank,  my  heart  is  broken  ;  but  you  are  not  to  blame  ; 
and  if  you  were,  I  would  die  imploring  blessings  on  your  head." 
Here  she  wept  bitterly. 

I  tried  every  means  in  my  power  to  comfort  and  encourage 
this  fascinating  and  extraordinary  girl  :  I  forgot  neither  vows 
nor  promises,  which,  at  the  time,  I  fully  intended  to  perform. 
I  promised  her  a  speedy,  and  I  trusted,  a  happy  meeting. 

"  God's  will  be  done,"  said  she,  "come  what  will.     4nd  now, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  143 

my  dearest  Frank,  farewell — never  again  endanger  your  life 
and  character  for  me  as  you  did  last  night.  I  have  been  blessed 
in  your  society,  and,  even  with  the  prospect  of  misery  before 
me,  cannot  regret  the  past." 

I  tenderly  embraced  her,  jumped  into  a  wherry,  at  Point, 

and  desired  the  waterman  to  take  me  on  board  the  I ,  at 

Spithead.  The  first-lieutenant  was  on  deck  when  I  came  up  the 
side. 

"  I  presume  it  was  you  whom  we  fired  at  last  night  ?"  said 
he,  smiling. 

"  It  was,  sir,"  said  I :  "  absolute  necessity  compelled  me  to 
go  on  shore,  or  I  should  not  have  taken  such  an  extraordinary 
mode  of  conveyance." 

"  Oh,  with  all  my  heart,"  said  the  officer  ;  "  had  you  told  me 
you  intended  to  have  swum  on  shore,  I  should  not  have  pre- 
vented yon;  I  took  you  for  one  of  the  pressed  men,  and  directed 
the  marines  to  fire  at  you." 

"  The  pressed  men  are  extremely  obliged  to  you,"  thought  I. 

"  Did  you  not  find  it  devilish  cold  ?"  continued  the  Ueute- 
nant,  in  a  strain  of  good  humour,  which  I  encouraged  by  my 
manner  of  answering. 

"  Indeed,  I  did,  sir,"  said  I. 

"  And  the  jollies  fired  tolerably  well,  did  they  ?" 

"  They  did,  sir  ;  would  they  had  had  a  better  markP 

"  I  understand  you,"  said  the  lieutenant  ;  "  but  as  you  have 
not  served  your  time,  the  vacancy  would  be  of  no  use  to  yon.  I 
must  report  the  affair  to  the  captain,  though  I  do  not  think  he 
will  take  any  notice  of  it  ;  he  is  too  fond  of  enterprise  himself 
to  check  it  in  others.  Besides,  a  lady  is  always  a  justifiable 
object,  but  we  hope  soon  to  show  you  some  higher  game." 

The  captain  came  on  board  shortly  after,  and  took  no  notice 
of  my  having  been  absent  without  leave;  he  made  some  remark 
as  he  glanced  his  eye  at  me,  which  I  afterwards  learned  was  in 
my  favour.  In  a  few  days  we  sailed,  and  arrived  in  a  few  more 
in  Basque  Roads.  The  British  fleet  was  at  anchor  outside  the 
French  ships  moored  in  a  line  off  the  Isle  d'Aix.     The  ship  I 


144  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

belonged  to  had  an  active  part  in  the  work  going  on,  and  most 
of  us  saw  more  than  we  chose  to  speak  of ;  but  as  much  ill 
blood  was  made  on  that  occasion,  and  one  or  two  very  unplea- 
sant court-martials  took  place,  I  shall  endeavour  to  confine 
myself  to  my  own  personal  narrative,  avoiding  any  thing  that 
may  give  offence  to  the  parties  concerned.  Some  days  were 
passed  in  preparing  the  fireships  ;  and  on  the  night  of  the  11th 
April,  1809,  every  thing  being  prepared  for  the  attempt  to  de- 
stroy the  enemy's  squadron,  we  began  the  attack.  A  more  dar- 
ing one  was  never  made  ;  and  if  it  partly  failed  of  success,  no 
fault  could  be  imputed  to  those  who  conducted  the  enterprise  : 
they  did  all  that  man  could  do. 

The  night  was  very  dark,  and  it  blew  a  strong  breeze  directly 
in  upon  the  Isle  d'Aix,  and  the  enemy's  fleet.  Two  of  our  fri- 
gates had  been  previously  so  placed  as  to  serve  as  beacons  to 
direct  the  course  of  the  fire-ships.  They  each  displayed  a  clear 
and  brilliant  light ;  the  fire-ships  were  directed  to  pass  between 
these  ;  after  which,  their  course  up  to  the  boom  which  guarded 
the  anchorage  was  clear,  and  not  easily  mistaken. 

I  solicited,  and  obtained  permission  to  go  on  board  one  of  the 
explosion  vessels  that  were  to  precede  the  fire-ships.  They  were 
filled  with  layers  of  shells  and  powder,  heaped  one  upon 
another  ;  the  quantity  on  board  of  each  vessel  was  enormous. 
Another  officer,  three  seamen,  and  myself,  were  all  that  were 
on  board  of  her.  We  had  a  four-oared  gig,  a  small  narrow 
thing,  (nicknamed  by  the  sailors  a  "  coffin,")  to  make  our 
escape  in. 

Being  quite  prepared,  we  started  :  it  was  a  fearful  moment  ; 
the  wind  freshened  and  whistled  through  our  rigging,  and  the 
night  was  so  dark  that  Ave  could  not  see  our  bowsprit.  We 
bad  only  our  fore-sail  set  ;  but  with  a  strong  flood-tide,  and  a 
fair  wind,  with  plenty  of  it,  we  passed  between  the  advanced 
frigates  like  an  arrow.  It  seemed  to  me  like  entering  the  gates 
of  hell.  As  we  flew  rapidly  along,  and  our  own  ships  disap- 
peared in  the  intense  darkness,  I  thought  of  Dante's  inscription 
over  the  portals  :  "  You  who  enter  here,  leave  hope  behind." 


THE    NATAL    OFFICER.  145 

Our  orders  were  to  lay  the  vessel  on  the  boom  which  the 
French  had  moored  to  the  outer  anchors  of  their  ships  of  the 
line.  In  a  few  minutes  after  passing  the  frigates,  we  were  close 
to  it ;  our  boat  was  towing  astern,  with  three  men  in  it — one 
to  hold  the  rope  ready  to  let  go,  one  to  steer,  and  one  to  bail 
the  water  out,  which,  from  our  rapid  motion,  would  otherwise 
have  swamped  her.  The  officer  who  accompanied  mc,  steered 
the  vessel,  and  I  held  the  match  in  my  hand.  AVc  came  upon 
the  boom  with  a  horrid  crash  :  he  put  the  helm  down,  and  laid 
her  broadside  to  it.  The  force  of  the  tide  acting  on  ihe  hull, 
and  the  wind  upon  her  fore-sail,  made  her  heel  gunwale  to,  and 
it  was  with  difficulty  I  could  keep  my  legs  :  at  this  moment  the 
boat  was  very  near  being  swamped  alongside.  They  had  shifted 
her  astern,  and  there  the  tide  had  almost  lifted  her  over  the 
boom  ;  by  great  exertion  they  got  her  clear,  and  lay  upon  their 
oars  :  the  tide  and  the  wind  formed  a  bubbling  short  sea,  which 
almost  buried  her.  My  companion  then  got  into  the  boat, 
desiring  mc  to  light  the  port-fire,  and  follow. 

If  ever  I  felt  the  sensation  of  fear,  it  was  after  I  had  lighted 
this  port-fire,  which  was  connected  with  the  train.  Until  I  was 
fairly  in  the  boat,  and  out  of  the  reach  of  the  explosion — which 
was  inevitable,  and  might  be  instantaneous — the  sensation  was 
horrid.  I  was  standing  on  a  mine  ;  any  fault  in  the  port-fire, 
which  sometimes  will  happen,  any  trifling  quantity  of  gun- 
powder lying  in  the  interstices  of  the  deck,  would  have  exploded 
the  whole  in  a  moment  ;  had  my  hand  trembled,  which  I  am 
proud  to  say  it  did  not,  the  same  might  have  occurred.  Only 
one  minute  and  a  half  of  port-fire  was  allowed.  I  had  there- 
fore no  time  to  lose.  The  moment  I  had  lit  it,  I  laid  it  down 
very  gently,  and  then  jumped  into  the  gig,  with  a  uimbleness 
suitable  to  the  occasion  ;  we  were  off  in  a  moment.  I  pulled 
the  stroke  oar,  and  I  never  plied  with  more  zeal  in  all  my  life; 
we  were  not  two  hundred  yards  from  her  when  she  exploded. 

A  more  terrific  and  beautiful  sight  cannot  be  conceived  ;  but 
we  were  not  quite  enough  at  our  ease  to  enjoy  it.  The  shells 
flew  up  in  the  air  to  a  prodigious  height,  some  bursting  as  they 

1 


146  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

rose,  and  others  as  tliey  descended.  The  shower  fell  about  us, 
but  we  escaped  without  injury.  We  made  but  little  progress 
against  the  wind  and  tide  ;  and  we  had  the  pleasure  to  run  the 
gauntlet  among  all  the  other  fireships,  which  had  been  ignited, 
and  bore  down  on  us  in  flames  fore  and  aft.  Their  rigging 
was  hung  with  Congreve  rockets  ;  and  as  they  took  fire,  they 
darted  through  the  air  in  every  direction  with  an  astounding 
noise,  looking  like  large  fiery  serpents. 

We  arrived  safely  on  board,  and  reported  ourselves  to  the 
captain,  who  was  on  the  hammocks,  watching  the  progress  of 
the  fire-ships.  One  of  these  had  been  lighted  too  soon  ;  her 
helm  had  not  been  lashed,  and  she  had  broached  to,  close  to 
our  frigatei  I  had  had  quite  enough  of  adventure  for  that 
night,  but  was  fated  to  have  a  little  more. 

"  Mr.  Mildmay,"  said  the  captain,  "  you  seem  to  like  the 
fun  :  jump  into  your  gig  again,  take  four  fresh  hands,  (thinks 
I,  a  fresh  midshipman  would  not  be  amiss),  get  on  boaixl  of  that 
vessel,  and  put  her  head  the  right  way." 

I  did  not  like  this  job  at  all  ;  the  vessel  appeared  to  be  in 
flames  from  the  jib-boom  to  the  topsail ;  and  I  own  I  preferred 
enjoying  the  honours  I  had  already  gained,  to  going  after 
others  so  very  precarious  ;  however,  I  never  made  a  difficulty, 
and  this  was  no  time  for  exceptions  to  my  rule.  I  touched  my 
hat,  said,  "  Ay,  ay,  sir,"  sang  out  for  four  volunteers,  and  in  an 
instant  I  had  fifty.  I  selected  four,  and  shoved  ofi"  on  my  new 
expedition. 

As  I  a^jproached  the  vessel,  I  could  not  at  first  discover  any 
part  that  was  not  tenanted  by  the  flames,  the  heat  of  which,  at 
the  distance  of  twenty  or  thirty  feet,  was  far  from  pleasant, 
even  in  that  cold  night.  The  weather  quarter  appeared  to  be 
the  clearest  of  flames,  but  they  burst  out  with  great  fury  from 
the  cabin  windows.  I  contrived,  with  great  difficulty,  to  reach 
the  deck,  by  climbing  up  that  part  which  was  not  actually  burn- 
ing, and  was  followed  by  one  of  the  sailors.  The  raaiuinast  was 
on  fire,  and  the  flakes  of  burniiig  canvas  from  the  boom  mainsail, 
fell  on  us  like  a  snow-storm  :  the  end  of  the  tiller  was  burned 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  14T 

to  charcoal,  but  on  the  midship  part  of  it  I  passed  a  rope,  and, 
assisted  by  the  sailor,  moved  the  helm,  and  got  her  before  the 
wiud. 

While  I  was  thus  employed,  I  could  not  help  thinking  of  my 
type,  Don  Juan.  I  was  nearly  suffocated  before  I  had  completed 
my  work.  I  shoved  off  again,  and  away  she  flew  before  the 
wind,  "  I  dou't  go  with  you  this  time,"  said  I  ;  "/'  ai  ete"  as 
the  Frenchman  said,  when  he  was  invited  to  an  English  fox- 
hunt. 

I  was  as  black  as  a  negro  when  I  returned  on  board,  and 
dying  with  thirst :  "  Very  well  done,  Mildmay,"  said  the  cap- 
tain ;  "  did  you  find  it  warm  V  I  pointed  to  my  mouth,  for  it 
was  so  parched  that  I  could  not  speak,  and  ran  to  the  water- 
cask,  where  I  drank  as  much  as  would  have  floated  a  canoe. 
The  first  thing  I  said,  as  soon  as  I  could  speak,  was,  "  D — u 
that  fire-ship,  and  the  lubber  that  set  her  on  fire." 

The  next  morning  the  French  squadron  was  seen  iu  a  very 
disastrous  state  ;  they  had  cut  their  cables,  and  ran  on  shore  iu 
every  direction,  with  the  exception  of  the  flag-ships  of  the 
admiral  and  rear-admiral,  which  lay  at  their  anchors,  and  could 
not  move  till  high  water  ;  it  was  then  first  quarter  flood,  so 
that  they  had  five  good  hours  to  remain.  I  refer  my  readers  to 
the  court-martial  for  a  history  of  these  events  :  they  have  also 
been  commented  on  with  more  or  less  severity,  by  contemporary 
writers.  I  shall  only  observe,  that  had  the  captains  of  his 
majesty's  ships  been  left  to  their  own  judgment,  much  more 
would  been  attempted  ;  but  with  what  success  I  do  not  presume 
to  say. 

My  captain,  as  soon  as  he  could  see  his  mark,  weighed,  ran 
in,  and  engaged  the  batteries,  while  he  also  directed  his  guns 
at  the  bottoms  of  the  enemy's  ships,  as  they  lay  on  shore  on 
their  beam  ends.  Isle  D'Aix  gave  us  a  warm  reception.  I 
was  on  the  forecastle,  the  captain  of  which  had  his  head  taken 
clean  off,  by  a  cannon-ball  ;  the  captain  of  the  ship  coming  for- 
ward at  the  same  moment,  only  said,  "  Poor  fellow  !  throw  him 
overboard  ;  there  is  no  time  for  a  coroner's  inquest  now."     We 


148  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

were  a  considerable  time  engaging  the  batteries,  and  the 
vessels  near  them,  without  receiving  any  assistance  from  our 
ships. 

While  this  was  going  on,  a  very  curious  instance  of  muscular 
action  occurred  ;  a  lad  of  eighteen  years  of  age  was  on  the 
forecastle,  when  a  shot  cut  away  the  whole  of  his  bowels, 
which  were  scattered  over  another  midshipman  and  myself,  and 
nearly  blinded  us  ;  he  fell — and  after  lying  a  few  seconds, 
sprang  suddenly  on  his  feet,  stared  us  horridly  in  the  face,  and 
fell  down  dead.  The  spine  had  not  been  divided  ;  but  with 
that  exception,  the  lower  was  separated  from  the  upper  part  of 
the  body. 

Some  of  our  vessels  seeing  us  so  warmly  engaged,  began  to 
move  up  to  our  assistance.  One  of  our  ships  of  the  line  came 
into  action  in  such  gallant  trim,  that  it  was  glorious  to  behold. 
She  was  a  beautiful  ship,  in  what  we  call  "  high  kelter,"  she 
seemed  a  living  body,  conscious  of  her  own  superior  power  over 
her  opponents,  whose  shot  she  despised,  as  they  fell  thick  and 
fast  about  her,  whilst  she  deliberately  took  up  an  admirable 
position  for  battle.  And  having  furled  her  sails,  and  squared 
her  yards,  as  if  she  had  been  at  Spithead,  her  men  came  down 
from  aloft,  went  to  their  guns,  and  opened  such  a  fire  on  the 
enemy's  ships  and  batteries,  as  would  have  delighted  the  great 
Nelson  himself,  could  he  have  been  present.  The  results  of  this 
action  are  well  known,  and  do  not  need  repeating  here  ;  it  was 
one  of  the  winding-up  scenes  of  the  war.  The  French,  slow  to 
believe  their  naval  inferiority,  now  submitted  in  silence.  Our 
navy  had  done  its  work  ;  and  from  that  time,  the  brunt  of  the 
war  fell  on  the  army. 

The  advocates  of  fatalism  or  predestination  might  adduce  a 
strong  illustration  of  their  doctrine  as  evinced  in  the  death  of 
the  captain  of  one  of  the  French  ships  destroyed.  This  officer 
had  been  taken  out  of  his  ship  by  one  of  the  boats  of  our 
frigate  ;  but  recollecting  that  hi;  had  left  on  board  nautical 
instruments  of  great  value,  he  requested  our  captain  to  go  with 
him   in   the   gig,    and    l>niig  them   away  before   the   ship   was 


THE    NAVAT,    OFFICKR.  149 

burned.  They  did  go,  and  the  boat  being  veiy  small,  they  sat 
very  close,  side  by  side,  on  a  piece  of  board  not  much  more  than 
two  feet  long,  which,  for  want  of  proper  seats,  was  laid  across 
the  stern  of  the  boat.  One  of  the  French  ships  was  burning  at 
the  time  ;  her  guns  went  off  as  fast  as  the  fire  reached  them  ; 
and  a  chance  shot  took  the  board  from  under  the  two  captains. 
The  English  captain  was  not  hurt  ;  but  the  splinters  entered 
the  body  of  the  French  captain,  and  killed  him.  Late  in  the 
evening,  the  other  French  lino-of-battle  ships  that  were  ashore 
were  set  fire  to,  and  a  splendid  illumination  they  made  ;  we 
were  close  to  them,  and  the  splinters  and  fragments  of  wreck 
fell  on  board  of  us. 

Among  our  killed,  was  a  Dutch  boatswain's  mate  ;  his  wife 
was  on  board,  and  the  stick  which  he  was  allowed  to  carry  in 
virtue  of  his  office,  he  very  frequently  applied  to  the  shoulders 
of  his  helpmate,  in  requital  for  certain  instances  of  infidelity; 
nor,  with  all  my  respect  for  the  fair  sex,  can  I  deny  that  the 
punishment  was  generally  deserved.  When  the  cannon-ball 
had  deprived  her  of  her  lawful  protector  and  the  guardian  of 
her  honour,  she  sat  by  the  side  of  his  mangled  remains,  making 
many  unavailing  efforts  to  weep  ;  a  tear  from  one  eye  coursed 
down  her  cheek,  and  was  lost  in  her  mouth  ;  one  from  the 
other  eye  started  at  the  same  time,  but  for  want  of  nourish- 
ment, halted  on  her  cheek  bone,  where,  collecting  the  smoke 
and  gunpowder  which  surrounded  us,  it  formed  a  little  black 
peninsula  and  isthmus  on  her  face,  and  gave  to  her  heroic  grief 
a  truly  mourning  tear.  This  proof  of  conjugal  affection  she 
would  not  part  with  until  the  following  day,  when  having  seen 
the  last  sad  rites  paid  to  the  body  of  her  faithful  Achilles,  .she 
washed  her  face^  and  resumed  her  smiles,  nor  was  she  ungrate- 
ful to  the  ship's  company  for  their  sympathy. 

We  were  ordered  up  to  Spithead  with  despatches,  and  long 
before  we  arrived,  she  had  made  the  sergeant  of  marines  the 
happiest  of  men,  under  a  promise  of  marriage  at  Kingston 
church,  before  we  sailed  on  our  next  cruise,  which  promise  was 
most  honourably  performed. 


150  '  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

A  midsliipmau's  vacancy  having  occurred  on  board  the  frigate, 
the  captain  offered  it  to  me.  I  gladly  accepted  of  it ;  and  while 
he  was  in  the  huraour,  I  asked  him  for  a  week's  leave  of  absence; 
this  he  also  granted,  adding,  at  the  same  time,  "  no  more  French 
leave,  if  you  please."  I  need  not  say  that  not  an  hour  of  this 
indulgence  was  intended  either  for  my  father  or  even  the  dear 
Emily.     No,  Eugenia,  the  beloved,  in  her  interesting  condition, 

claimed  my  undivided  care.     I  flew  to  G ,  found  the  troupe ; 

but  she,  alas  1  had  left  it  a  fortnight  before,  and  had  gone  no 
one  knew  whither. 

Distracted  with  this  fatal  news,  I  sunk  into  a  chair  almost 
senseless,  when  one  of  the  actresses  brought  me  a  letter  :  I  knew 
the  hand,  it  was  that  of  Eugenia.  Rushing  into  an  empty  par- 
lour, I  broke  the  seal,  and  read  as  follows  : — 

"  Believe  me,  my  dearest  Mildmay,  nothing  but  the  most  ur- 
gent necessity  could  induce  me  to  cause  you  the  affliction  which 
I  know  you  will  feel  on  reading  these  lines.  Circumstances  have 
occurred  since  we  parted,  that  not  only  render  it  necessary  that 
I  should  quit  you,  but  also  that  we  should  not  meet  again  for 
some  time;  and  that  you  should  be  kept  in  ignorance  of  my 
place  of  abode.  Our  separation,  though  long,  will  not,  I  trust, 
be  eternal  ;  but  years  may  elapse  before  we  meet  again.  The 
sacrific-e  is  great  to  me,  but  your  honour  and  prosperity  demand 
it.  I  have  the  same  ardent  love  towards  you  that  I  ever  had  ; 
and  for  your  sake,  will  love  and  cherish  your  child.  I  am  sup- 
ported in  this  my  trial,  by  the  hope  of  our  being  again  united. 
God  in  Heaven  bless  you,  and  prosper  all  your  undertakings. 
Follow  up  your  profession.  I  shall  hear  and  have  constant  in- 
telligence of  all  your  motions,  and  I  shall  pray  to  Heaven  to 
spare  your  life  amidst  all  the  dangers  that  your  courage  will 
urge  you  to  encounter.  Farewell  !  and  forget  not  her  who 
never  has  you  one  moment  from  her  thoughts. 

"  Eugenia. 

"  P.  S.  You  may  at  times  be  short  of  cash;  I  know  you  are 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  151 

very  tliougbtlcss  in  that  respect.  A  letter  to  the  subjoined 
address  will  always  be  attended  to,  and  enable  you  to  command 
whatever  may  be  necessary  for  your  comfort.  Pride  might  in- 
duce you  to  reject  this  offer;  but  remember  it  is  p]ugenia  that 
offers:  and  if  you  love  her  as  she  thinks  you  do,  you  will  accept 
it  from  her." 

Here  was  mystery  and  paradox  in  copious  confusion. 
"  Obliged  by  circumstances  to  leave  me — to  conceal  the  place 
of  her  retirement " — yet  commanding  not  only  pecuniary  re- 
sources for  herself,  but  offering  me  any  sum  I  might  require  1 
I  retired  to  my  bed  ;  but  sleep  forsook  me,  nor  did  I  want  it. 
1  had  too  much  to  think  of,  and  no  clue  to  solve  my  doubts.  I 
prayed  to  Heaven  for  her  welfare,  vowed  eternal  constancy,  and 
at  length  fell  asleep.  The  next  morning,  I  took  leave  of  my 
quondam  associates,  and  returned  to  Portsmouth,  neither  wish- 
ing to  see  my  father,  my  family,  or  even  the  sweet  Emily.  It 
however,  occurred  to  me,  that  the  same  agent  who  could  ad- 
vance money,  could  forward  a  letter  ;  and  a  letter  I  wrote, 
expressing  all  I  felt.  No  answer  was  returned  ;  but  as  the 
letter  never  came  back,  I  was  convinced  it  was  received,  and 
occasionally  sent  others,  the  contents  of  which  my  readers  will, 
no  doubt,  feel  obliged  to  me  for  suppressing,  love-letters  being 
of  all  things  in  the  world  the  most  stupid,  except  to  the  parties 
concerned. 

As  I  was  not  to  see  my  Eugenia,  I  was  delighted  to  hear  that 
we  were  again  to  be  sent  on  active  service.  The  Scheldt  Expedi- 
tion was  preparing,  and  our  frigate  was  to  be  in  the  advance ;  but 
our  gallant  and  favourite  captain  was  not  to  go  with  us,  an  act- 
ing captain  was  appointed,  and  every  exertion  was  used  to  have 
the  ship  ready.  The  town  in  the  mean  time  was  as  crowded  with 
soldiers  as  Spithead  and  the  harbour  were  with  transjiorts.  Late 
in  July,  we  sailed,  having  two  gun-boats  in  tow,  which  we  were 
ordered  to  man.  I  applied  for,  and  obtained  the  command  of  one 
of  them,  quite  certain  that  I  should  see  more  service,  and  conse- 
cjuently  have  more  amusement,  than  if  I  remained  on  board  the 


152  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

frig-ate.  We  convoyed  forty  or  fifty  transports,  containing  the 
cfivalry,  and  brought  them  all  safe  to  an  anchor  off  Cadsand. 

The  weather  was  fine,  and  the  water  smooth;  not  a  moment 
was  lost  in  diseml)arking  the  troops  and  horses  ;  and  I  do  not 
recollect  ever  having  seen,  either  before  or  since,  a  mure  pleas- 
ing sight.  The  men  were  first  set  on  shore  with  their  saddles 
and  bridles  ;  the  horses  were  then  lowered  into  the  water  in 
running  slings,  which  were  slipped  clear  of  them  in  a  moment  ; 
and  as  soon  as  they  found  themselves  free,  they  swam  away  for 
the  shore,  which  they  saluted  with  a  loud  neigh  as  soon  as  they 
landed.  In  the  space  of  a  quarter  of  a  mile  we  had  three  or 
four  hundred  horses  in  the  water,  all  swimming  for  the  shore  at 
the  same  time  ;  while  their  anxious  riders  stood  on  the  beach 
waiting  their  arrival.  I  never  saw  so  novel  or  picturesque  a 
sight. 

I  found  the  gun-boat  service  very  hard.  We  were  stationed 
off  Batz,  and  obhged  to  be  constantly  on  the  alert ;  but  when 
Flushing  surrendered,  we  had  more  leisui-e  ;  and  we  employed 
it  in  procuring  some  articles  for  our  table,  to  which  we  had  been 
too  long  strangers.  Our  money  had  been  expended  in  the  pur- 
chase of  champagne  and  claret,  in  which  articles  we  were  no 
economists,  consequently  few  florins  could  be  spared  for  the  pur- 
chase of  poultry  and  butcher's  meat  ;  but  then  these  articles 
were  to  be  procured  by  the  same  means  which  had  given  us  the 
island  of  Walcheren,  namely  powder  and  shot.  The  country 
people  were  very  churlish,  and  not  at  all  inclined  to  barter;  and 
as  we  had  nothing  to  give  in  exchange,  we  avoided  useless  di-s- 
eussion.  Turkeys,  by  us  short-sighted  mortals,  were  often  mis- 
taken for  pheasants  ;  cocks  and  liens,  for  partridges  ;  tame 
ducks  and  geese  for  wild  ;  in  short,  such  was  our  hurry  and 
confusion — leaping  ditches,  climbing  dykes,  and  fording  swamps 
— that  Buflbn  himself  would  never  have  known  the  difference 
between  a  goose  and  a  peacock.  Our  game-bags  were  as  spa- 
cious as  our  consciences,  and  our  aim  as  good  as  our  appetites. 

The  peasants  shut  all  their  poultry  up  in  their  barns,  and 
very  liberally  bestowed  all  their  curses  I'lpon  us.     Thus  all  our 


THE    NAVAL  ^OFFICER.  153 

supplies  were  cut  off,  and  foraging  became  at  least  a  source  of 
difficulty,  if  not  of  danger.  I  went  on  shore  with  our  party, 
put  a  bullet  into  my  fowling-piece,  ?ad,  as  I  thought,  shot  a 
deer  ;  but  on  more  minute  inspection,  it  proved  to  be  a  four- 
mouth's  calf  This  was  an  accident  that  might  have  happened 
to  any  man.  The  carcass  was  too  heavy  to  carry  home,  so  we 
cut  it  in  halves,  not  fore  and  aft  down  the  back-bone,  as  your 
stupid  butchers  do,  but  made  a  short  cut  across  the  loins,  a  far 
more  compendious  and  portable  method  than  the  other.  We 
marched  off  with  the  hind  legs,  loins,  and  kidney,  having  first 
of  all  buried  the  head  and  shoulders  in  the  field,  determined  to 
call  and  take  it  away  the  following  night. 

We  were  partly  seen,  and  severely  scrutinized  in  our  action 
by  a  neighbouring  gun-boat,  whose  crew  were,  no  doubt,  as 
hungry  as  ourselves  ;  they  got  hold  of  one  of  our  men,  who, 
like  a  fool,  let  the  cat  out  of  the  bag,  when  a  pint  of  grog  got 
into  it.  The  fellow  hinted  where  the  other  half  lay,  and  these 
unprincipled  rascals  went  after  it,  fully  resolved  to  appropriate 
it  to  themselves  ;  but  they  were  outwitted,  as  they  deserved  to 
be,  for  their  roguery.  The  farmer  to  whom  the  calf  belonged 
had  got  a  hint  of  what  was  done,  and"  finding  that  we  had 
buried  one  half  of  the  calf,  procured  a  party  of  soldiers  ready 
to  take  possession  of  us  when  we  should  come  to  fetch  it  away  ; 
accordingly,  the  party  who  went  from  the  other  gun-boat  after 
dark,  having  found  out  the  spot,  were  very  busy  disinterring 
their  prey,  when  they  were  surprised,  taken  prisoners,  and 
marched  away  to  the  British  camp,  leaving  the  dead  body 
behind. 

We,  quite  unconscious  of  what  was  done,  came  soon  after, 
found  our  veal,  and  marched  off  with  it.  The  prisoners  were, 
in  the  mean  time,  sent  on  board  the  flag-ship,  with  the  charge 
of  robbei'y  strongly  preferred  against  them  :  indeed,  the 
flagrante  delicto  was  proved.  In  vain  they  protested  that  they 
were  not  the  slayers,  but  only  went  in  search  of  what  others 
had  killed  ;  the  admiral,  who  was  a  kind-hearted  man,  said, 
that  that  was  a  very  good  story,  but  desired  them  "  not  to  tell 

1* 


154  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

lies  to  old  rogues,"  and  ordered  them  all  under  arrest  :  at  the 
same  time  giving  directions  for  a  most  rigid  scrutiny  into  the 
larder  of  the  other  gun-boat,  with  a  view,  if  possible,  to  dis- 
cover the  remains  of  the  calf.  This  we  had  foreseen  would  hap- 
pen, so  we  put  it  into  one  of  the  sailor's  bags,  and  sank  it  with 
a  lead  Une  in  three  fathoms  water,  where  it  lay  till  the  inspec- 
tion was  over,  when  we  dressed  it,  and  made  an  excellent 
dinner,  drinking  success  to  his  majesty's  arms  by  land  and  sea. 

Whether  I  had  been  intemperate  in  food  or  libation  I  know 
not,  but  I  was  attacked  with  the  Walcheren  fever,  and  was 
sent  home  in  a  line-of-battle  ship  :  and,  perhaps,  as  Pangloss 
says,  it  was  all  for  the  best  ;  for  I  knew  I  could  not  have  left  off 
my  inveterate  habits,  and  it  would  have  been  very  inconvenient 
to  me,  and  distressing  to  my  friends,  to  have  ended  my  brUliant 
career,  and  stopped  these  memoirs,  at  this  most  interesting 
part  of  the  volume,  by  hanging  the  author  up,  like  a  scarecrow, 
under  the  superintendence  of  the  rascally  provost-marshal, 
merely  for  catering  on  the  land  of  a  Walcheren  farmer.  More- 
over, the  Dutch  were  unworthy  of  liberty,  as  their  actions 
proved,  to  begrudge  a  few  fowls,  or  a  fillet  of  veal,  to  the  very 
men  who  came  to  rescue  them  from  their  bondage  ;  and  then 
their  water,  too,  who  ever  drank  such  stuff?  for  my  part,  I 
never  tasted  it  when  I  could  get  any  thing  better.  As  to  their 
nasty  swamps  and  fogs,  quite  good  enough  for  such  croaking 
fellows  as  they  are,  what  could  induce  an  Englishman  to  live 
among  them,  except  the  pleasure  of  killing  Frenchmen,  or  shoot- 
ing game  ?  Deprive  us  of  these  pursuits,  which  the  surrender 
of  Flushing  effectually  did,  and  Walcheren,  with  its  ophthalmia 
and  its  agues,  was  no  longer  a  place  for  a  gentleman.  Besides, 
I  plainly  saw  that  if  there  ever  had  been  any  intention  of 
advancing  to  Antwerp,  the  time  was  now  gone  by  ;  and  as  the 
French  were  laughing  at  us,  and  I  never  liked  to  be  made  a 
butt  of,  particularly  by  such  chaps  as  these,  I  left  the  scene  of 
our  sorrows  and  disgraces  without  regret. 

The  farewell  of  V()ltaii'(;  came  into  my  mind.  "  Adieu, 
Canau^,  Canaries,  H  Cannille,''^  which  might  be  rendered  into 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  155 

Eaglish  thus — "  Good-bye,  Dykes,  Ducks,  and  Dutchmen."  So 
I  returned  to  my  father's  house,  to  be  nursed  by  my  sister,  and 
to  astonish  the  neighbours  with  the  history  of  our  wonderful 
achievements. 


CHAPTER   XII. 


First  came  gi-eat  Neptune,  with  his  three-forkt  mace, 

That  rules  the  seas,  and  makes  them  rise  or  fall  ; 

His  dewy  locks  did  drop  with  brine  apace 

Under  his  diademe  imperiall : 

And  by  his  side  his  queene  with  coronall, 

Faire  Amphitrite  *  *  *  * 

******* 

These  marched  farre  afore  the  other  crew. 


I  REMAINED  no  lougor  at  home  than  sufficed  to,  restore  my 
strength,  after  the  serious  attack  of  fever  and  ague  which  I  had 
brought  with  me  from  Walchereu.  Although  my  father 
received  me  kindly,  he  had  not  forgotten  (at  least  I  thought 
so)  my  former  transgressions  ;  and  mutual  distrust  destroyed 
that  intimacy  which  ought  ever  to  exist  between  father  and 
son.  The  thread  was  broken — it  is  in  vain  to  inquire  how,  and 
the  consequence  was,  that  the  day  of  my  departure  to  join  a 
frigate  ou  the  North  American  station,  was  welcomed  with  joy 
by  me,  and  seen  unregretted  by  my  father. 

The  ship  I  was  aljout  to  join  was  commanded  by  a  young 
nobleman,  and  as  patricians  weVe  not  so  plentiful  in  the  service 
at  that  time  as  they  have  since  become,  I  was  considered  for- 
tunate in  my  appointment.  I  was  ordered,  with  about  thirty 
more  supernumerary  midshipmen,  to  take  my  passage  in  a  ship 
of  the  line,  going  to  Bermuda.  The  gun-room  was  given  to  us 
as  our  place  of  residence,  the  midshipmen  belonging  to  the  ship 
occupying  the  two  suug  berths  in  the  cockpit. 

Among  so  many  young  men  of  different  habits  and  circum- 
stances, all  joining  the  ship  at  different  periods,  uo  combination 


156  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

could  be  made  for  forming  a  mess.  The  ship  sailed  soon  after 
I  got  on  board,  and  our  party,  during  the  voyage,  was  usually 
supplied  from  the  purser's  steward-room.  I  have  thought  it 
very  wonderful,  that  a  mess  of  eight  or  twelve  seamen  or 
marines  will  always  make  the  allowance  last  from  one  week  to 
another,  and  have  something  to  spare  ;  but  with  the  same  num- 
ber of  midshipmen  the  case  is  very  different,  and  the  larger  the 
mess,  the  more  do  their  difficulties  increase  ;  they  are  never 
satisfied,  never  have  enough,  and  if  the  purser  will  allow  them, 
are  always  in  debt  for  flour,  beef,  pork,  and  spirits.  This  is 
owing  to  their  natural  habits  of  carelessness  ;  and  our  mess,  for 
this  reason,  was  particularly  uncomfortable.  The  government 
was  a  democracy  ;  but  the  caterer  had  at  times  been  invested 
with  dictatorial  powers,  wliich  he  either  abused,  or  was  thought 
to  abuse,  and  he  was  accordingly  turned  out,  or  resigned  in 
disgust,  at  the  end  of  two  or  three  days. 

Most  of  my  messmates  were  young  men,  senior  to  me  in  the 
service,  having  passed  their  examinations,  and  were  going  to 
America  for  promotion  :  but  when  mustered  on  the  quarter- 
deck, whether  they  appeared  less  manly,  or  were,  in  fact,  less 
expert  in  their  duty,  I  know  not  ;  but  certain  it  is,  tliat  the 
first-lieutenant  appointed  me  mate  of  a  watch,  and  placed  sev- 
eral of  these  aspirants  under  my  orders  ;  and  so  strong  did  we 
muster,  that  we  stood  in  each  other's  way  when  on  deck  keep- 
ing our  watch,  seldom  less  than  seventeen  or  eighteen  in 
nmnber. 

In  the  gun-room  we  agreed  very  ill  together,  and  one  princi- 
pal cause  of  this  was,  our  short  allowance  of  food — daily  skir- 
mishes took  place,  and  not  unfrequently  pitched  battles  ;  but  I 
never  took  any  other  part  in  them,  than  as  spectator,  and  the 
observations  I  made  convinced  me  that  I  should  have  no  great 
difficulty  in  mastering  the  whole  of  them. 

The  office  of  caterer  was  one  of  neither  iionour  nor  emolu- 
ment, and  it  was  voluntarily  taken  up  and  peevishly  laid  down, 
on  the  first  trifling  i)ro vocation.  With  the  sliip's  allowance,  no 
being  less  than  an  angel  could  have  given  satisfaction.     The 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFICER.  157 

division  of  beef  and  pork  into  as  many  parcels  as  there  were 
claimants,  always  produced  remonstrance,  reproof,  and  blows. 
I  was  never  quarrelsome,  and  took  the  part  allotted  to  me  qui- 
etly enough,  until,  they  finding  my  disposition  to  submit,  I  found 
my  portion  daily  decrease,  and,  on  the  resignation  of  the  thir- 
teenth caterer,  I  volunteered  my  services,  which  were  gladly 
accepted. 

Aware  of  the  danger  and  diflSculty  of  my  situation,  I  was 
prepared  accordingly.  On  the  first  day  that  I  shared  the  pro- 
visions, I  took  very  good  care  of  No.  1,  and  as  I  had  foreseen, 
was  attacked  by  two  or  three  for  my  lion-like  division  of  the 
prey.  Upon  this,  I  made  them  a  short  speech,  observing,  that 
if  they  supposed  I  meant  to  take  the  trouble  of  catering  for 
nothing,  they  were  very  much  mistaken  ;  that  the  small  differ- 
ence I  made  between  their  portions  and  mine,  if  equally  divided 
among  them,  would  not  fill  a  hollow  tooth,  and  that,  after  my 
own  share,  all  others  should  be  distributed  with  the  most  rigid 
impartiality  and  scrupulous  regard  to  justice. 

This  very  reasonable  speech  did  not  satisfy  them.  I  was 
challenged  to  decide  the  point  d  la  Cribb;  two  candidates  for 
the  honour  stepped  out  at  once.  I  desired  them  to  toss  up, 
and  having  soon  defeated  the  winner,  I  recommended  him  to 
return  to  his  seat.  The  next  man  came  forward,  hojiing  to  find 
an  easy  victory,  after  the  fatigue  of  a  recent  battle  ;  but  he  was 
mistaken,  and  retired  with  severe  chastisement.  The  next  day 
I  took  my  seat,  cleared  for  action — coat,  waistcoat,  and  neck- 
cloth off.  I  observed  that  I  should  proceed  as  I  had  done 
before,  and  was  ready  to  hold  a  court  of  Oyer  and  Terminer  ; 
but  no  suitors  appeared,  and  I  held  the  office  of  caterer  from 
that  day  till  I  quitted  the  ship,  by  the  strongest  of  all  possible 
claims — first,  by  election  ;  and,  secondly,  by  right  of  conquest. 

^^'e  had  not  been  many  days  at  sea,  before  we  discovered 
that  our  first-lieutenant  was  a  most  abominable  tyrant,  a  brutal 
fellow,  a  drunkard,  and  a  glutton,  with  a  long  red  nose,  and  a 
large  belly  ;  he  tVequoutly  sent  half-a-dozen  gi-own-up  midship- 
men to  the  mast-head  at  a  time.     Tliis  man  1  dete*rmined  to 


158  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

turn  out  of  the  ship,  and  mentioned  my  intention  to  my  mess- 
mates, promising  them  success,  if  they  would  only  follow  my 
advice.  They  quite  laughed  at  the  idea  ;  but  I  was  firm,  and 
told  them  that  it  should  come  to  pass,  if  they  would  but  behave 
so  ill  as  just  to  incur  a  slight  punishment,  or  reprimand,  from 
"  Nosey,"  every  day  :  this  they  agreed  to  ;  and  not  a  day 
passed  but  they  were  either  mast-headed,  or  put  watch  and 
watch. 

They  reported  all  to  me,  and  asked  my  advice  :  "  Complain 
to  the  captain,"  said  I.  They  did,  and  were  told  that  the  first- 
lieutenant  had  done  his  duty.  The  same  causes  produced  the 
same  eft'ects  on  each  succeeding  day  ;  and  when  the  midship- 
men complained,  they  had  no  redress.  By  my  direction,  they 
observed  to  the  captain,  "  It  is  of  no  use  complaining,  sir  ;  you 
always  take  Mr.  Clewline's  part."  The  captain,  indeed,  from 
a  general  sense  of  propriety,  gave  his  support  to  the  ward-room 
officers,  knowing  that,  nine  times  in  ten,  midshipmen  were  in 
the  wrong. 

Things  worked  as  I  wished  ;  the  midshipmen  persisted  in 
behaving  ill — remonstrated,  and  declared  that  the  first-lieutenant 
did  not  tell  the  truth.  For  a  time,  many  of  them  lost  the 
favour  of  the  captain,  but  I  encouraged  them  to  bear  that,  as 
well  as  the  increased  rancour  of  "  Old  Nosey."  One  day  two 
midshipmen,  by  previous  agreement,  began  to  fight  on  the  lee 
gang-way.  In  those  days,  that  was  almost  crime  enough  to 
have  hanged  them  ;  they  were  sent  to  the  mast-head  for  three 
hours,  and  when  they  came  down,  applied  to  me  for  advice. 
"  Go,"  said  I,  "  and  complain.  If  the  first-lieutenant  says  you 
were  fighting,  tell  the  captain  you  were  only  showing  how  the 
first-lieutenant  pummelled  the  men  last  night  when  they  were 
hoisting  the  topsails,  and  the  way  he  cut  the  marine's  head 
when  he  knocked  him  down  the  hatchway."  All  this  was  fairly 
done — the  midsliipnieu  received  a  reprimand,  but  tlie  captain 
began  to  think  there  might  be  some  cause  for  these  continued 
complaints,  which  daily  increased  both  in  weight  and  number. 

At   hist  we  were   enabled   to   give   the  coup  de  grace.     A. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  ]59 

wretched  boy  in  the  ship,  whose  dirty  habits  often  brought 
him  to  the  gun,  was  so  hardened  that  he  laughed  at  all  the 
stripes  of  the  boatswain's  cat  inflicted  on  him  by  the  first- 
lieutenant.  "  I  will  make  him  feel,"  said  the  enraged  officer  ; 
so  ordering  a  bowl  of  brine  to  be  brought  to  him,  he  sprinkled 
it  on  the  lacerated  flesh  of  the  boy  between  every  lash.  Tliis 
inhuman  act,  so  unbecoming  the  character  of  an  officer  and  a 
gentleman,  we  all  resented,  and  retiring  to  the  gun-room  in  a 
body,  gave  three  deep  and  heavy  groans  in  chorus.  The  effect 
WIS  dismal ;  it  was  heard  in  the  ward-room,  and  the  first- 
lieiUeuant  sent  down  to  desire  we  should  be  quiet ;  on  which 
we  immediately  gave  three  more,  which  sent  him  in  a  rage  to 
the  quarter-deck,  where  we  were  all  summoned,  and  the  reason 
of  the  noise  demanded.  I  had,  till  then,  kept  myself  in  the 
back  ground,  content  with  being  the  primiom  mobile,  without 
beiug  seen.  I  was  always  strict  to  my  duty,  and  never  had 
been  complained  of ;  my  coming  forward,  therefore,  on  this 
occasion,  produced  a  fine  stage  effect,  and  carried  great 
weight. 

I  told  the  lieutenant  we  were  groaning  for  the  poor  boy  who 
had  been  pickled.  This  increased  his  rage,  and  he  ordered  me 
up  to  the  mast-head.  I  refused  to  go  until  I  had  seen  the  cap- 
tain, who  at  that  moment  made  his  appearance  on  deck.  I 
immediately  referred  to  him,  related  the  whole  story,  not  omit- 
ting to  mention  the  repeated  acts  of  tyranny  which  the  lieute- 
nant had  perpetrated  on  us  all.  I  saw  in  a  moment  that  we 
had  gained  the  day.  The  captain  had  given  the  most  positive 
orders  that  no  one  should  be  punished  without  his  express  per- 
mission. This  order  the  lieutenant  had  disobeyed,  and  that, 
added  to  his  unpopular  character,  decided  his  fate.  The  cap- 
tain walked  into  his  cabin,  and  the  next  day  signified  to  tlie 
first-lieutenant,  that  he  must  quit  the  ship  on  her  arrival  in 
port,  or  be  tried  by  a  court-martial ;  this  latter  he  knew  he 
dared  not  stand. 

I  should  have  informed  my  reader  that  our  orders  were  to 
i-ce  the  East-India  convoy  as  far  as  the  tenth  degree  of  north 


160  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

latitude,  and  then  proceed  to  Bermuda.  This  was  of  itself  a 
pleasant  cruise,  and  gave  us  the  chance  of  falling  in  either  with 
an  enemy  or  a  recapture.  Ships  not  intending  to  cross  the 
line,  usually  grant  a  saturnalia  to  the  crew  when  they  come  to 
the  tropic  of  Capricorn  ;  it  is  thought  to  renovate  their  spirits, 
and  to  break  the  monotony  of  the  cruise,  or  voyage,  where  time 
flows  on  in  such  a  smooth,  undeviating  routine,  that  one  day  is 
not  distinguishable  from  another.  Our  captain,  a  young  man, 
and  a  perfect  gentleman,  never  refused  any  indulgence  to  the 
men,  not  incompatible  with  discipline  and  the  safety  of  the  ship ; 
and  as  the  regular  trade-wind  blew,  there  was  no  danger  of 
sudden  squalls.  The  ceremony  of  crossing  the  line,  I  am  aware 
has  been  often  described — so  has  Italy  and  the  Khine  ;  but 
there  are  varieties  of  ways  of  doing  and  relating  these  things  ; 
ours  had  its  singularity,  and  ended,  I  am  sorry  to  say,  in  a 
deep  tragedy  which  I  shall  remember  "  as  long  as  memory  holds 
her  seat." 

One  beautiful  morning,  as  soon  as  the  people  had  breakfasted, 
they  began  to  prepare,  by  stripping  to  their  waists,  and  wear- 
ing nothing  but  a  pair  of  duck  trousers.  The  man  at  the  mast- 
head called  out  that  he  saw  something  on  the  weather-bow, 
which  he  thought  was  a  boat  ;  soon  after,  an  unknown  voice 
from  the  jib-boom  hailed  the  ship  ;  the  officer  of  the  watch 
answered  :  and  the  voice  commanded  him  to  heave  to,  as  Nep- 
tune was  coming  on  board.  The  ship  was  accordingly  hove  to 
with  every  formality,  though  going  at  the  rate  of  seven  miles 
an  hour  :  the  main-yard  squared,  the  head  and  after-yards 
braced  up. 

As  soon  as  the  ship  was  hove  to,  a  young  man  (one  of  the 
sailors)  dressed  in  a  smart  suit  of  black,  kuee-breeches  and 
buckles,  with  his  hair  powdered,  and  with  all  the  extra  finery 
and  mincing  gait  of  an  exquisite,  came  aft  on  the  quarter-deck, 
and  with  a  most  polished  bow,  took  the  liberty  of  introducing 
himself  as  gentlemnn^s  gentleman  to  Mr.  Nei)tune,  who  had  been 
desired  to  [)recede  his  master  and  acquaint  the  couunauder  of 
the  vessel  with  his  intended  vivsit. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  161 

A  sail  had  been  extended  across  the  forecastle  by  way  of 
curtain,  and  from  behind  this  Neptune  and  his  train,  in  full  cos- 
tume, shortly  aftervvanls  came  forth. 

The  car  of  the  god  consisted  of  a  gun-carriage  :  it  was  drawn 
by  six  black  men,  part  of  the  ship's  crew  :  they  were  tall  nms- 
cular  fellows,  their  heads  were  covered  with  sea-weed,  and  they 
wore  a  very  small  pair  of  cotton  drawers  :  in  other  respects, 
I  hey  were  perCectly  naked  ;  their  skins  were  spotted  all  over 
with  red  and  white  paint  ;  alternately  they  held  conch  shells  in 
their  hands,  witli  which  they  made  a  most  horrible  noise.  Nep- 
tune was  masked,  as  were  many  of  his  attendants,  and  none  of 
the  officers  knew  exactly  by  which  of  the  men  the  god  was  re-' 
presented  ;  but  he  was  a  shrewd  hand,  and  did  his  part  very 
well.  He  wore  a  naval  crown,  made  by  the  ship's  armourer;  in 
his  right  hand  he  held  a  trident,  on  the  prongs  of  which  there 
was  a  dolphin,  which  he  had,  he  said,  struck  that  morning  ;  he 
wore  a  large  wig,  made  of  oakum,  and  a  beard  of  the  same 
materials,  which  flowed  down  to  his  waist;  he  was  full  powder- 
ed, and  his  naked  body  was  bedaubed  with  paint. 

The  god  was.  attended  by  a  splendid  court  :  his  secretary  of 
state,  whose  head  was  stuck  full  of  the  quills  of  the  sea  bird  of 
these  latitudes  ;  his  surgeon,  with  his  lancet,  pill-box,  and 
smelling-bottle  ;  his  barber,  with  a  razor,  whose  blade  was  two 
feet  long,  cut  off  an  iron  hoop  ;  and  the  barber's  mate,  who 
carried  a  small  tub,  as  a  shaving-box  ;  the  materials  within  I 
could  not  analyze,  but  my  nose  convinced  me  that  no  part  of 
them  came  from  Smith's,  in  Bond-street. 

Amphitrite  followed,  on  a  similar  carriage,  drawn  by  six 
white  men,  whose  costume  was  like  the  others.  This  goddess 
was  personified  by  an  athletic,  ugly  man,  marked  with  small- 
pox, dressed  as  a  female,  with  a  woman's  night-cap  on  his  head, 
ornamented  with  sprigs  of  sea-weed  ;  she  had  a  harpoon  in  her 
hand,  on  which  was  fixed  an  albicore  ;  and  in  her  lap  lay  one 
of  the  boys  of  the  ship,  dressed  as  a  baby,  with  long  clothes 
and  a  cap  ;  he  held  in  his  hand  a  niarliu- spike,  which  was  sus- 
pendtd  round  his  neck  with  a  rope-yarn  ;  this  was  to  assist  him 


162  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

iu  cutting  his  teeth,  as  the  children  on  shore  use  a  coral.  His 
nurse  attended  him  with  a  bucket  full  of  burgoo,  or  hasty  pud- 
ding, with  which  she  occasionally  fed  him  out  of  the  cook's  iron 
ladle.  Two  or  three  stout  men  were  habited  as  sea-nymphs,  to 
attend  on  the  goddess  ;  they  carried  a  looking-glass,  some 
curry-combs,  a  birch  broom,  and  a  pot  of  red  paint,  by  way  of 
rouge. 

As  soon  as  the  procession  appeared  on  the  fore-castle,  the 
captain,  attended  by  his  steward,  bearing  a  tray  with  a  bottle 
of  wine  and  some  glasses,  came  out  of  his  cabin,  and  the  cars 
of  the  marine  deities  were  drawn  up  on  the  quarter-deck.  Nep- 
■  tune  lowered  his  trident,  and  presented  the  dolphin  to  the  cap- 
tain, as  Amphitrite  did  her  albicore,  iu  token  of  submission  and 
homage  to  the  representative  of  the  king  of  Great  Britain. 

•'  I  have  come,"  said  the  god,  "  to  welcome  you  into  my 
dominions,  and  to  present  my  wife  and  child."  The  captain 
bowed.  "  Allow  me  to  ask  after  my  brother  and  liege  sover- 
eign the  good  old  King  George." 

"  He  is  not  so  well,"  said  the  captain,  "  as  I  and  all  his  sub- 
jects could  wish." 

"  More's  the  pity,"  replied  Neptune  ;  "  and  how  is  the  Prince 
of  Wales  ?" 

"  The  prince  is  well,"  said  the  captain,  "  and  now  governs  as 
regent  in  the  name  of  his  royal  father." 

"And  how  does  he  get  on  with  his  wife  ?"  said  the  inquisi- 
tive god." 

".Bad  enough,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  they  agree  together  like 
a  whale  and  a  thrasher." 

"  Ah  !  I  thought  so,"  said  the  god  of  the  sea.  "  His  royal 
highness  should  take  a  leaf  out  of  my  book  ;  uever  allow  it  to 
be  doubtful  who  is  cominandiug  officer." 

"  And  pray  what  might  your  majesty's  specific  be  to  cure  a 
bad  wife  ?"  said  the  captaiu. 

"  Three  feet  of  the  Qross-jacket  brace  every  morning  before 
breakfast,  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour,  and  half  an  hour  on  a  Sun- 
day." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  163 

"  But  why  more  on  a  Siiuda}-  than  any  other  day,"  said  the 
captain 

"  Why  ?"  said  Neptune,  "  why,  because  she'd  been  keeping 
Saturday  night,  to  be  sure  ;  besides,  she  has  less  to  do  of  a 
Sunday,  and  more  tune  to  think  of  hor  sins,  and  do  penance." 

"  But  you  would  not  have  a  prince  strike  a  lady,  surely  V 

"  Wouldn't  I  ?  no,  to  be  sure,  if  she  behave  herself  a.s  sick, 
on  no  account  ;  but  if  she  gives  tongue,  and  won't  keep  sober, 
I'd  sarve  her  as  I  do  Amphy — don't  I,  Amphy  ?"  chucking  the 
goddess  under  the  chin.  "  We  have  no  bad  wives  in  the  bottom 
of  the  sea  :  and  so  if  you  don't  know  how  to  keep  'em  m  order, 
send  them  to  us." 

"  But  your  majesty's  remedy  is  violent ;  we  should  have  a 
rebellion  in  England,  if  tlie  king  was  to  beat  his  wife." 

"  Make  the  lords  in  waiting  do  it  then,"  said  the  surly  god  ; 
"and  if  they  are  too  lazy,  which  I  dare  say  they  are,  send  for 
a  boatswain's  mate  from  the  lloyal  Billy — he'd  sarve  her  out, 
I  warrant  you  ; — and,  for  half  a  gallon  of  rum,  would  teach  the 
yeomen  of  the  guard  to  dance  the  binnacle  hornpipe  in  the 
bargain." 

"  His  royal  highness  shall  certainly  hear  your  advice,  Mr. 
Neptune  ;  but  whether  he  will  follow  it  or  not  is  not  for  me  to 
say.  Would  you  please  to  drink  his  royal  liighness's  good 
health  !" 

"  With  all  my  heart,  sir  ;  I  was  always  loyal  to  my  king,  and 
ready  to  drink  his  health,  and  to  fight  for  him." 

The  captain  presented  the  god  with  a  bumper  of  Madeii'a, 
and  another  to  the  goddess. 

"  Here's  a  good  health  and  a  long  life  to  our  gracious  king 
and  all  the  royal  family, '  The  roads  are  unkimmon  dusty,  and 
we  haven't  wet  our  lips  since  we  left  St.  Thomas  on  the  line, 
this  morning.  But  we  have  no  time  to  lose.  Captain,"  said  the 
sea  god  :  "  I  see  many  new  faces  here,  as  requires  washing  and 
shaving  ;  and  if  we  add  bleeding  and  physic,  they  will  be  all 
the  better  for  it." 

The  captain  nodded  assent ;  and  Neptune,  striking  the  deck 


164  FRANK    MII-DMAT  ;    OR, 

with  the  end  of  his  trident,  commanding  attention,  and  thus 
addressed  his  court  : — "  Hark  ye,  my  Tritons,  you  are  called 
here  to  shave,  duck,  and  physic  all  as  needs  ;  but  I  command 
you  to  be  gentle.  I'll  have  no  ill  usage  ;  if  we  gets  a  bad 
name,  we  gets  no  more  fees  ;  and  the  first  of  you  as  disobeys 
my  orders,  I'll  tie  him  to  a  ten-inch  mortar,  and  sink  him  ten 
thousand  fathoms  deep  in  the  ocean,  where  he  shall  feed  on  salt 
water  and  sea-weed  for  a  hundred  years:  begone  to  your  work." 
Twelve  constables,  with  thick  sticks,  immediately  repaired  to 
the  hatchway,  and  sent  down  all  who  had  not  been  initiated, 
guarding  them  strictly,  until  they  were  called  up  one  by  one. 

The  cow-pen  had  been  previously  prepared  for  the  bathing  ; 
it  was  lined  with  double  canvass,  and  boarded  ;  so  that  it  held 
water,  and  contained  about  four  butts,  which  was  constantly 
renewed  by  the  pump.  Many  of  the  officers  purchased  exemp- 
tion from  shaving  and  physic,  by  a  bottle  of  rum  ;  but  none 
could  escape  the  sprinkling  of  salt  water,  which  fell  about  in 
great  profusion  ;  even  the  captain  received  his  share,  but  with 
great  good  nature,  and  seemed  to  enjoy  the  sport.  It  was  easy 
to  perceive,  on  this  occasion,  who  were  favourites  with  the 
ship's  company,  by  the  degree  of  severity  with  which  tliey  were 
treated.  The  tyro  was  seated  on  the  side  of  the  cow-pen  :  he 
was  asked  the  place  of  his  nativity,  and  the  moment  he  opened 
his  mouth,  the  shaving-brush  of  the  barber,  which  was -a  very 
large  paint  brush,  was  crammed  in  with  all  the  filthy  lather 
with  which  they  covered  his  face  and  chin  ;  this  was  roughly 
scraped  off  with  the  great  razor.  The  doctor  felt  his  pulse, 
and  i)rescril)ed  a  pill,  which  was  forced  into  his  cheek  ;  and  the 
smelling-bottle,  the  cork  of  which  was  armed  with  short,  points 
of  pins,  was  so  forcibly  applied  to  his  nose  as  to  bring  blood  ; 
after  this,  he  was  thrown  backwards  into  the  bath,  and  allowed 
to  scramble  out  the  best  way  he  could. 

The  master-at-arms,  and  ship's  corporals,  and  purser's  steward, 
were  severely  treated.  The  midshipmen  looked  out  for  the  first- 
lieutenant  ;  but  he  kept  so  close  under  the  wing  of  the  captain, 
l,liat  lor  a  long  lime  we  were  unable  to  succeed.     At  length, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  165 

some  great  uproar  in  the  waist  induced  him  to  run  dov.-n,  wlien 
we  all  surrounded  him,  and  plied  him  so  eflcctually  with  buckets 
of  water,  that  he  was  glad  to  run  down  the  after-hatchway, 
and  seek  shelter  in  the  gun-room  ;  as  he  ran  down,  we  threw 
the  buckets  after  him,  and  he  fell,  like  the  Roman  virgin, 
covered  with  the  shields  of  the  soldiers. 

The  purser  had  fortified  himself  in  his  cabin,  and  with  his 
sword  and  pistols  vowed  vengeance  against  all  intruders  ;  but 
the  middies  were  not  to  be  frightened  with  swords  or  pistols  : 
so  we  had  him  out,  and  gave  him  a  sound  ducking,  because  he 
had  refused  to  let  us  have  more  spirits  than  our  allowance. 
He  was  paraded  to  the  main  deck  in  great  form,  his  sword 
held  over  his  head  ;  his  pistds,  in  a  bucket  of  water,  carried 
before  him  ;  and  having  been  duly  shaved,  physicked,  and 
soused  into  the  cow-pen,  he  was  allowed  to  return  to  his  cabin, 
like  a  drowned  rat. 

The  first-lieutenant  of  marines  was  a  great  bore  ;  he  was 
always  annoying  us  with  his  German  flute.  Having  no  ear  of 
his  own,  he  had  no  mercy  on  ours,  so  we  handed  him  to  the 
bath  :  and  in  addition  to  all  the  other  luxuries  of  the  day, 
made  him  drink  half  a  pint  of  salt  water,  which  "we  poured  into 
his  mouth  through  his  own  flute,  as  a  funnel.  I  now  recollect 
that  it  was  the  cries  of  the  poor  marine  which  brought  down 
the  first-lieutenant,  who  ordered  us  to  desist,  and  we  served  him 
as  has  been  related. 

Thus  far  all  was  hilarity  and  mirth  ;  but  the  scene  was  very 
suddenly  changed.  One  of  the  foretopmen,  drawing  water  in 
the  chains,  fell  overboard  ;  the  alarm  was  instantly  given,  and 
the  ship  liove  to.  I  ran  upon  the  poop,  and  seeing  that  the 
man  could  not  swim,  jumped  overboard  to  save  him.  The 
height  from  which  I  descended  made  me  go  very  deep  in  the 
water,  and  when  I  arose,  I  could  perceive  one  of  the  man's 
hands.  I  swam  towards  him  ;  but  what  was  my  horror,  when 
I  found  myself  in  the  midst  of  his  blood.  I  comprehended  in  a 
moment  that  a  shark  had  taken  him,  and  expected  that  every 
instant  my  fate  would  be  like  his.     T  wondei:  I  had  not  sunk 


166 


FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 


with  fear  :  I  was  nearly  paralyzed.  The  ship,  which  had  been 
going  six  or  seven  miles  an  honr,  was  at  some  distance,  and  I 
gave  myself  np  for  gone.  I  had  scarcely  the  power  of  reflection, 
and  was  overwhelmed  by  the  sudden,  awful,  and  as  I  thought, 
certain  approach  of  death,  in  its  most  horrible  shape.  In  a 
moment  I  recollected  myself ;  and  I  believe  the  actions  of  five 
years  crowded  into  my  mind  in  as  many  minutes.  I  prayed  most 
fervently,  and  vowed  amendment,  if  it  should  please  God  to 
spare  me.  My  prayer  was  heard,  and  I  believe  it  was  a  special 
Providence  that  rescued  me  from  the  jaws  of  the  fish.  I  was 
nearly  a  mile  from  the  ship  before  I  was  picked  up  ;  and  when 
the  boat  came  alongside  with  me,  three  large  sharks  were  under 
the  stern.  These  had  devoured  the  poor  sailor,  and  fortunately 
for  me,  had  followed  the  ship  for  more  prey,  and  thus  left  me 
to  myself. 

As  I  went  up  the  side,  I  was  received  by  the  captain  and  offi- 
cers in  the  most  flattering  manner  ;  the  captain  thanked  me 
in  the  presence  of  the  ship's  company  for  my  praiseworthy 
exertions,  and  I  was  gazed  on  by  all  as  an  object  of  interest 
and  admiration  ;  but  if  others  thought  so  of  me,  I  thought  not 
so  of  myself.  I  retired  below  to  my  berth  with  a  loathing  and 
contempt,  a  self-abasement,  which  I  cannot  describe.  I  felt  my- 
self unworthy  of  the  mercy  I  had  received.  The  disgraceful 
and  vicious  course  of  life  I  had  led,  burst  upon  me  with  horrible 
conviction.  "  Cxlo  tonantem  credimus  Jovem  regnare,"  says 
Horace  ;  and  it  was  only  by  the  excitement  of  such  peculiarly 
horrid  situations,  that  the  sense  of  a  superintending  power 
could  be  awakened  within  me,  a  hardened  and  incorrigible 
sinner. 

I  changed  my  clothes,  and  was  glad  when  night  came,  that  I 
might  be  left  to  myself ;  but  oh,  how  infinitely  more  horrid  did 
my  situation  appear  I  I  shuddered  when  I  thought  of  what  I 
had  gone  through,  and  I  made  the  most  solemn  promises  of  a 
new  life.  How  transient  were  these  feelings  I  How  long  did 
these  good  resolutions  last  I  Just  as  long  as  no  temptation 
came  in  the  way  ;  as  long  as  there  was  no  excitement  to  sin,  no 


THE    XAVAt,    OFFICER.  167 

means  of  gratifying  appetite.  My  good  intentions  were  traced 
in  the  sand.  I  was  very  soon  as  thoughtless  and  as  profane  as 
ever,  although  frequently  checked  by  the  remembrance  of  my 
providential  escape  ;  and  for  years  afterwards  the  thoughts  of 
the  shark  taking  me  by  the  leg  was  accompauied  by  the  acknow- 
ledgment that  the  devil  would  have  me  in  like  manner,  if  I  did 
not  amend. 

If,  after  this  awakening  circumstance,  I  could  have  had  the 
good  fortune  to  have  met  with  sober-minded  and  religious 
people,  1  have  no  doubt  but  I  might  have  had  at  this  time  much 
less  to  answer  for  ;  but  that  not  being  the  case,  the"  force  of 
habit  and  example  renewed  its  dominion  over  me,  and  I  became 
nearly  as  bad  as  ever. 

Our  amusements  in  the  gun-room  were  rough.  One  of  them 
was  to  lay  on  the  mess-table,  under  the  tiller,  and  to  hold  by 
the  tiller  ropes  above,  while  we  kicked  at  all  who  attempted  to 
dislodge  us,  either  by  force  or  stratagem.  Whoever  had  posses- 
sion, had  nine  points  of  the  law,  and  could  easily  oppose  the  whole. 
I  one  day  held  this  envied  position,  and  kept  all  at  bay,  when 
unluckily,  oae  of  the  passed  midshipmen,  who  had  got  very 
drunk  with  the  gunner,  came  in  and  made  a  furious  attack  on 
me.  I  gave  him  a  kick  on  the  face,  that  sent  him  with  great 
violence  on  his  back,  among  the  plates  and  dishes,  which  had 
been  removed  from  the  dinner-table  and  placed  between  the 
guns.  Enraged,  as  much  at  the  laughter  against  him  as  at  the 
blow  he  had  received,  he  snatched  up  a  carving-fork,  and,  before 
any  one  was  aware  of  his  intention,  stabbed  me  with  it  four 
times.  I  jumped  np  to  punish  him,  but  the  moment  I  got  on 
my  legs  I  was  so  stiff  that  I  fell  back  into  the  arms  of  my  mess- 
mates. 

The  surgeon  examined  the  wounds,  which  were  serious  ;  two 
of  them  nearly  touched  an  artery.  I  was  put  to  bed  sick,  and 
was  three  weeks  confined  to  my  berth.  The  midshipman  who 
had  committed  this  outrage,  was  very  penitent  when  sober,  and 
implored  my  pardon  and  forgiveness.  Naturally  good-natured, 
I  freely  forgave,  because  I  was  disarmed  by  submission.    I  never 


168  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

trampled  on  a  prostrate  foe.  Tlie  surgeon  reported  me  ill  of  a 
fever,  which  was  true  ;  for  had  the  captain  known  the  real  fact, 
the  midshipman,  whose  commission  was  signed,  and  in  the  ship, 
ready  to  be  delivered  to  him  on  his  arrival  at  Bermuda,  would 
certainly  have  lost  his  promotion.  My  kindness  to  him,  I  be- 
lieve, wounded  him  more  than  my  resentment  ;  he  became 
exceedingly  melancholy  and  thoughtful,  gave  up  drinking,  and 
was  ever  after  greatly  attached  to  me.  I  reckon  this  among 
the  few  good  actions  of  my  life,  and  own  I  have  great  pleasure 
in  reflecting  upon  it. 

We  arrived  at  Bermuda  soon  after,  having  left  the  convoy  in 
the  latitude  of  ten  degrees  north.  The  supernumeraries  were 
all  discharged  into  their  respective  ships  ;  and  before  we  sepa- 
rated, we  had  the  pleasure  to  see  the  first-lieutenant  take  his 
passage  in  a  ship  bound  to  England.  Most  sincerely  did  we 
congratulate  ourselves  on  the  success  of  our  intrigue. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

Where  the  remote  Bermudas  ride, 

In  the  ocean's  bosom.  Andrew  Maevell. 

There  is  a  peculiar  kind  of  beauty  among  these  islands,  which 
we  might  readily  believe  to  be  the  abode  of  fairies.  They  con- 
sist of  a  cluster  of  rocks,  formed  by  the  zoophyte,  or  coral 
worm.  The  number  of  the  islands  is  said  to  be  equal  to  the  days 
of  the  year.  They  are  covered  with  a  short  greeu-sward,  dark 
cedar  trees,  and  low  white  houses,  which  have  a  pretty  and 
pleasing  effect  ;  the  harbours  are  numerous,  but  shallow  ;  and 
though  there  arc  many  channels  into  them,  there  is  but  one  for 
large  ships  into  the  principal  anchorage. 

Numerous  caverns,  whose  roofs  sparkle  with  the  spars  and 
stalactites  formed  by  the  drii)ping  water,  are  found  in  every 
part  of  the  islnnds.      They  contain  springs  of  delicious  coolness, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  169 

to  quench  the  thirst,  or  to  bathe  in.  The  sailors  have  a  notion 
that  these  islands  float,  and  that  the  crust  which  composes  them 
is  so  thin  as  to  be  broken  with  little  exertion.  One  man  being 
confined  in  the  guard-house  for  having  got  drunk  and  misbe- 
haved, stamped  on  the  ground,  and  roared  to  the  guard,  "  Let 
me  out,  or,  d — n  your  eyes,  I'll  knock  a  hole  in  your  bottom, 
scuttle  your  island,  and  send  you  all  to  h —  together."  Rocks 
and  shoals  abound  in  almost  every  direction,  but  chiefly  on  the 
north  and  west  sides.  They  arc,  however,  well  known  to  the 
native  pilots,  and  serve  as  a  safeguard  from  nightly  surprise  or 
invasion. 

Varieties  of  fish  are  found  here,  beautiful  to  the  eye  and 
delicious  to  the  taste  :  of  these,  the  best  is  the  red  grouper. 
When  on  a  calm,  clear  day,  you  glide  among  these  lovely 
islands,  in  your  boat,  you  seem  to  be  sailing  over  a  submarine 
flower-garden,  in  which  clumps  of  trees,  shrubs,  flowers,  and 
gravel  walks,  are  planted  in  wild  but  regular  profiisiou. 

My  chief  employment  was  afloat,  and  according  to  my  usual 
habit,  I  found  no  amusement  unless  it  was  attended  with 
danger  ;  and  this  propensity  found  ample  gratification  in  the 
whale  fishery,  the  season  for  which  was  just  approaching.  The 
ferocity  of  the  fish  in  these  southern  latitudes  appears  to  be 
increased,  both  from  the  heat  of  the  climate  and  the  care  of 
their  young,  for  which  reason  it  would  seem  that  the  risk  in 
taking  them  is  greater  than  in  the  Polar  seas. 

From  what  I  am  able  to  learn  of  the  natural  history  of  the 
whale,  she  brings  forth  her  young  seldom  more  than  one  at  a 
time,  in  the  northern  regions,  after  which,  with  the  calf  at  her 
side,  the  mother  seeks  a  more  genial  climate,  to  bring  it  to 
maturity.  They  generally  reach  Bermuda  about  the  middle  of 
March,  where  they  remain  but  a  few  weeks,  after  which  they 
visit  the  West  India  islands,  then  bear  away  to  the  southward, 
and  go  round  Cape  Ilorn,  returning  to  the  Polar  seas  by  the 
Aleutian  Islands  and  Behring's  Straits,  which  they  reach  in  the 
following  summer  ;  when  the  young  whale,  having  acquired 
size   and   strength   in   the   southern   latitudes,  is   enabled   to 


ItO  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

contend  witb  his  enemies  in  the  north,  and  here  also  the  dam 
meets  the  male  again.  From  my  own  experience  and  the 
inquiries  I  have  been  enabled  to  make,  I  am  tolerably  certain 
that  this  is  a  correct  statement  of  the  migration  of  these  ani- 
mals, the  females  annually  making  the  tour  of  the  two  great 
American  continents  attended  by  their  young. 

The  "maternal  solicitude"  of  the  whale  makes  her  a  danger- 
ous adversary,  and  many  serious  accidents  occur  in  the  season 
for  catching  whales.  On  one  occasion  I  had  nearly  paid  with 
my  life  for  the  gratification  of  my  curiosity.  I  went  in  a  whale- 
boat  rowed  by  coloured  men,  natives  of  the  islands,  who  were 
very  daring  and  expert  in  this  pursuit.  We  saw  a  whale,  with 
her  calf,  playing  round  the  coral  rocks  ;  the  attention  which 
the  dam  showed  to  its  young,  the  care  she  took  to  warn  it 
of  danger,  was  truly  affecting.  She  led  it  away  from  the  boats, 
swam  round  it,  and  sometimes  she  would  embrace  it  with  her 
fins,  and  roll  over  with  it  in  the  waves.  We  contrived  to 
get  the  "vantage  ground"  by  going  to  seawai'd  of  her,  and 
by  that  means  drove  her  into  shoal  water  among  the  rocks. 
At  last  we  came  so  near  the  young  one,  that  the  harpooner 
poised  his  weapon,  knowing  that  the  calf  once  struck,  the 
mother  was  our  own,  for  she  would  never  desert  it.  Aware  of 
the  danger  and  impending  fate  of  its  inexperienced  offspring, 
she  swam  rapidly  round  it,  in  decreasing  circles,  evincing  the 
utmost  uneasiness  and  anxiety  ;  but  its  parental  admonitions 
were  unheeded,  and  it  met  its  fate. 

The  boat  approached  the  side  of  the  younger  fish,  and  the 
harpooner  buried  his  tremendous  weapon  deep  in  the  ribs.  The 
moment  it  felt  the  wound,  the  poor  animal  darted  from  us, 
taking  out  a  hundred  fathoms  of  line  ;  but  a  young  fish  is  soon 
conquered  when  once  well  struck  ;  such  was  the  case  in  this 
instance;  it  was  no  sooner  checked  with  the  line,  than  it  turned 
on  its  back,  and,  displaying  its  white  belly  on  the  surface  of  the 
water,  floated  a  lifeless  corpse.  The  unhappy  parent,  with 
an  instinct  always  more  powerful  than  reason,  never  quitted  the 
body. 


THE    XAVAL    OFFICER.  ITl 

We  hauled  in  upon  tlic  lino,  and  came  close  up  to  our  quarry 
just  as  another  boat  had  fixed  a  harpoon  into  the  mother.  The 
tail  of  the  furious  animal  descended  with  irresistible  force  upon 
the  centre  of  our  boat,  cutting  it  in  two,  and  killing  two  of  the 
men  :  the  survivors  took  to  swimming  for  their  lives  in  all 
directions.  The  whale  went  in  pursuit  of  the  third  boat,  but 
was  checked  by  the  line  from  the  one  that  had  struck  her  :  she 
towed  them  at  the  rate  of  ten  or  twelve  miles  an  hour  ;  and 
had  she  had  deep  water,  Avould  have  taken  the  boat  down,  or 
obliged  them  to  cut  away  from  her. 

The  two  boats  were  so  much  employed,  that  they  could 
not  come  to  our  assistance  for  some  time,  and  we  w^ere  left 
to  our  own  resources  much  longer  than  I  thought  agreeable.  I 
was  going  to  swim  to  the  calf  whale  ;  but  one  of  the  men 
advised  me  not  to  do  so,  saying  that  the  sharks  would  be 
as  thick  around  him  as  the  lawyers  round  Westminster-hall  ; 
and  that  I  should  certainly  be  snapped  up,  if  I  went  near  :  for 
my  comfort  he  added,  "  These  devils  seldom  touch  a  man,  if 
they  can  get  any  thing  else."  This  might  be  very  true  ;  but  I 
must  confess  I  was  very  glad  to  see  one  of  the  boats  come  to 
our  assistance,  wliile  the  mother  whale,  encumbered  with  the 
heavy  harpoon  and  line,  and  exhausted  with  the  fountain  of 
black  blood  which  she  threw  up,  drew  near  to  her  calf,  and  died 
by  its  side  ;  evidently,  in  her  last  moments,  more  occupied  with 
the  preservation  of  her  young  than  of  herself. 

As  soon  as  she  had  turned  on  her  back,  I  had  reason  to 
thank  the  "Mudian"  for  his  good  advice;  there  were  at 
least  thirty  or  forty  sharks  assembled  round  the  carcasses  ; 
and  as  we  towed  them  in,  they  followed.  When  we  had 
grounded  them  in  the  shallow  water,  close  to  the  beach,  the 
blubber  was  cut  off ;  after  which,  the  flesh  was  given  to  the 
black  people,  who  assembled  in  crowds,  and  cut  off  with  their 
knives  large  portions  of  the  meat.  The  sharks  as  liberally 
helped  themselves  with  their  teeth  :  but  it  was  very  remarkable, 
that  though  the  black  men  often  came  between  them  and 
the  whale,  they  never  attacked  a  man.     This  was  a  singular 


112  FRANK    MILD  MAY  ;    Oil, 

scene  ;  the  blacks,  with  their  white  eyes  and  teeth,  hallooing, 
laughing,  screaming,  and  mixhig  with  numerous  sharks — the 
most  ferocious  monsters  of  the  deep — yet  preserving  a  sort 
of  truce  during  the  presence  of  a  third  object :  it  reminded 
me,  comparing  great  things  with  small,  of  the  partition  of 
Poland. 

I  found  that  there  was  neither  honour  nor  profit  for  me 
in  this  diversion,  so  I  no  more  went  a  whale-fishing,  but  took 
my  passage  to  Halifax  in  a  schooner  ;  one  of  those  vessels, 
built  during  the  war,  in  imitation  of  the  Virginia  pilot  boats  ; 
but,  like  most  of  our  imitations,  about  as  much  resembling  the 
original  as  a  cow  is  like  a  hare,  and  bearing  exactly  the  same 
proportion  in  point  of  velocity.  And  as  if  it  had  been  deter- 
mined that  these  vessels  should  in  every  respect  disgrace  the 
British  flag,  the  command  of  them  was  conferred  on  officers 
whose  conduct  would  not  induce  captains  to  allow  them  to 
serve  under  them,  and  who  were  therefore  very  unwisely  sent 
into  small  vessels,  where  they  became  their  own  masters,  and 
were  many  of  them  constantly  drunk ;  such  was  the  state  of  my 
commander  from  the  time  I  sailed  until  we  reached  Halifax. 
The  example  of  the  lieutenant  was  followed  by  his  mate,  and 
three  midshipmen  ;  the  crew,  which  consisted  of  twenty-five 
men,  were  kept  sober  by  being  confined  to  their  allowance,  and 
I  had  a  hopeful  prospect. 

Fortunately,  drinking  was  not  among  my  vices.  I  could  get 
"  fresh,"  as  we  call  it,  when  in  good  company,  and  excited  by 
wit  and  mirth  ;  but  I  never  went  to  the  length  of  being  drunk  ; 
and,  as  I  advanced  in  years,  pride  and  cunning  made  me  still 
more  guarded.  I  perceived  the  immense  advantage  which  so- 
briety gave  me  over  a  drunkai'd,  and  I  failed  not  to  profit  by  it. 

Keeping  constantly  on  deck,  almost  night  and  day,  I  attend- 
ed to  the  course  of  the  vessel,  and  the  sail  she  carried,  never 
takmg  the  trouble  to  consult  the  lieutenant,  who  was  generally 
senseless  in  his  cabin.  We  made  Sambro'  Light-house  (which 
is  at  the  entrance  of  Halifax  harbour)  in  the  evening,  and  one 
of  the  midshipmen,  who  was  more  than  half  drunk,  declared 


THK    NAVAT,    OFFICKR.  173 

liimself  well  acquainted  with  the  place,  and  his  offer  to  pilot  the 
vessel  in  was  accepted.  As  I  had  never  been  tliere  ln;ft)re,  I 
could  be  of  no  use  ;  but  extremely  doubtful  of  the  skill  of  our. 
pilot,  I  watched  his  proceedings  with  some  anxiety. 

In  half  an  hour  we  found  ourselves  on  shore,  on  Cornwallis 
Island,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  and  the  sea  made  a  fair  breach 
over  us.  This  sobered  the  lieutenant  and  his  officers  ;  and  as 
the  tide  fell,  we  found  ourselves  high  and  dry.  The  vessel  fell 
over  on  her  side,  and  I  walked  on  shore,  determined  to  trust 
myself  no  more  with  such  a  set  of  beasts.  Boats  came  down 
from  the  dock-yard,  at  daylight,  and  took  me  and  some  others, 
who  followed  my  example,  together  with  our  luggage,  to  the 
flag-ship.  After  two  days'  hard  labour,  the  vessel  was  got  off, 
and  brought  into  the  harbour.  .  The  admiral  was  informed  of 
the  whole  transaction,  and  one  of  the  captains  advised  him  to 
try  the  lieutenant  by  a  court-martial,  or,  at  least,  to  turn  him 
out  of  the  vessel,  and  send  him  home.  Unfortunately,  he  would 
not  follow  this  advice,  but  sent  him  to  sea  again  with  despatches. 
It  was  known  that  all  hands  were  drunk  on  quitting  the  port ; 
and  the  vessel  ran  upon  a  reef  of  rocks  called  the  Sisters,  where 
slie  sunk,  and  every  soul  perished.  Her  mast-heads  were  seen 
just  above  water  next  morning. 

The  frigate  I  was  to  join  came  into  harbour  soon  after  I 
reached  Halifax.  This  I  was  sorry  for,  as  I  found  myself  in 
very  good  quarters.  I  had  letters  of  introduction  to  the  best 
families.  The  place  is  proverbial  for  hospitality  ;  and  the 
society  of  young  ladies  who  are  both  virtuous  and  lovely,  tended, 
in  some  degree,  to  reform  and  polish  the  rough  and  libertine 
manners  which  I  had  contracted  in  my  career.  I  had  many 
sweethearts  ;  but  they  were  more  likc*Emily  than  Eugenia.  I 
was  a  great  flirt  arnong  them,  and  would  willingly  have  spent 
more  time  in  their  company  ;  but  my  fate  or  fortuue  was  to  be 
accomplished,  and  I  went  on  board  the  frigate,  where  I  present- 
ed my  introductory  letters  to  the  nobleman  who  commanded  her. 
I  expected  to  have  seen  an  effeminate  young  man,  much  too 
refined  to  learn  his  business  ;  but  I  was  mistaken.     Lord  Edward 


114  FRAXK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

was  a  sailor,  every  inch  of  him  ;  he  knew  a  ship  from  stem  to 
stern  :  understood  the  characters  of  seamen,  and  gained  their 
confidence.  He  was,  besides,  a  good  mechanic — a  carpenter, 
rope-maker,  sail-maker,  and  cooper.  He  could  hand,  reef,  and 
steer,  knot  and  splice  ;  but  he  was  no  orator  ;  he  read  little,  and 
spoke  less.  He  was  a  man  of  no  show.  He  was  good-tem- 
pered, honest,  and  unsophisticated,  with  a  large  proportion  of 
common  sense.  He  was  good-humoured  and  free  with  officers  ; 
though,  if  offended,  he  was  violent,  but  soon  calm  again  ;  nor 
could  you  ever  perceive  any  assumption  of  consequence  from  his 
title  of  nobility.  He  was  pleased  with  my  expertuess  in  prac- 
tical seamanship  ;  and  before  we  left  the  harbour,  I  became  a 
great  favourite.  This  I  took  care  to  improve,  as  I  liked  him 
both  for  himself  and  his  good  qualities,  independently  of  the 
advantages  of  being  on  good  terms  Avith  the  captain. 

We  were  not  allowed  to  remain  long  in  this  paradise  of  sail- 
ors, being  ordered  suddenly  to  Quebec.  I  ran  round  to  say 
adieu  to  all  my  dear  Arcadian  friends.  A  tearful  eye,  a  lock  of 
hair,  a  hearty  shake  of  a  fair  hand,  were  all  the  spoils  with 
which  I  was  loaded  when  I  quitted  the  shore,  and  I  cast  many 
a  longing,  lingering  look  behind,  as  the  ship  glided  out  of  the 
harbour  ;  white  handkerchiefs  were  waved  from  the  beach,  and 
many  a  silent  prayer  put  up  for  our  safe  return,  from  snowy 
bosoms  and  from  aching  hearts.  I  dispensed  my  usual  quantum 
of  vows  of  eternal  love  and  fidelity  before  I  left  them,  and  my 
departure  was  marked  in  the  calendar  of  Halifax,  as  a  black 
day,  at  least  by  seven  or  eight  pair  of  blue  eyes. 

We  had  not  been  long  at  sea,  before  we  spoke  an  Irish 
Guineaman  from  Belfast,  loaded  with  emigrants  for  the  United 
States  ;  I  think  about  seventeen  families.  These  were  contra- 
band. Our  captain  had  some  twenty  thousand  acres  on  the 
island  of  St.  John's,  or  Prince  Edwards,  as  it  is  now  called,  a 
grant  to  some  of  his  ancestors,  which  had  been  bequeathed  to 
him,  and  from  which  he  had  never  received  one  sliilUng  of  rent, 
for  tlie  very  best  reason  in  the  world,  because  there  were  no 
tenants  to  cultivate  the  soil.     It  occurred  to  our  noble  captain, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  "  175 

that  this  was  the  very  sort  of  cargo  he  wantecl,  and  that  these 
Irish  people  would  make  good  clearers  of  his  land,  and  improve 
his  estate.  He  made  the  proposal  to  them,  and  as  they  saw  no 
chance  of  getting  to  the  United  States,  and  provided  they  could 
procure  nourishment  for  their  families,  it  was  a  matter  of  indif- 
ference to  them  where  they  colonized,  the  proposal  was  accept- 
ed, and  the  captain  obtained  permission  of  the  admiral  to  accom- 
pany them  to  the  island,  to  see  them  housed  and  settled.  Indeed, 
nothing  could  have  been  more  advantageous  for  all  parties  ; 
they  increased  the  scanty  population  of  our  own  colony,  instead 
of  adding  to  the  number  of  our  enemies.  We  sailed  again  from 
Halifax  a  few  hours  after  we  had  obtained  the  sanction  of  the 
admiral,  and,  passing  through  the  beautiful  passage  between 
Nova  Scotia  and  the  island  of  Cape  Breton,  known  by  the  name 
of  the  Gut  of  Canso,  we  soon  reached  Prince  Edward's  Island. 
We  anchored  in  a  small  harbour  near  the  estate,  on  which 
we  found  a  man  residing,  with  his  wife  and  family  ;  this  fellow 
called  himself  the  steward,  and  from  all  I  could  see  of  him, 
during  our  three  weeks'  stay,  he  appeared  to  me  to  be  rascal 
enough  for  the  stewardship  of  any  nobleman's  estate  in  Eng- 
land. The  captain  landed  and  took  me  as  his  aid-de-camp.  A 
bed  was  prepared  for  his  lordsliip  in  the  steward's  house,  but 
he  preferred  sleeping  on  clean  hay  in  the  barn.  This  noble 
lord  was  a  man  whose  thoughts  seldom  gave  much  labour  to 
his  tongue  ;  he  always  preferred  hearing  others  to  talking  him- 
self ;  and  whosoever  was  his  companion,  he  must  always  be  at 
the  expense  of  the  conversation.  Nor  was  it  by  the  usual 
mode  of  simple  narrative,  that  his  mind  was  completely  im- 
pressed with  the  image  intended  to  be  presented  to  him  ;  he 
required  three  different  versions,  or  paraphrases,  of  the  same 
story,  or  observation,  and  to-  these  he  had  three  different  ex- 
pletives or  ejaculations.  These  were  hum  !  eh  !  and  ah  !  The 
first  denoted  attention;  the  second  part  comprehension;  and  the 
third,  assent  and  entire  approval  ;  to  mark  which,  more  dis- 
tinctly, the  last  syllable  was  drawn  out  to  an  immoderate 
'  length,  and  acompanied  by  a  sort  of  half  laugh. 


176  '  PRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

I  shall  give  one  instance  of  our  colloquial  pastime.  His  lord- 
ship, after  we  had  each  taken  up  our  quarters  for  the  night,  on 
the  soft  dry  hay,  thus  began  : 

"  I  say," — a  pause. 

"My  "lord?" 

"  What  would  they  say  in  England  at  our  taking  up  such 
quarters  ?" 

"  I  think,  my  lord,  that  as  far  as  regards  myself,  they  would 
say  nothing  ;  but  as  far  as  regards  your  lordship,  they  would 
say  it  was  very  indifferent  accommodation  for  a  nobleman." 

"  Hum  !" 

This  I  knew  was  the  signal  for  a  new  version.  "  I  was  ob- 
serving, my  lord,  that  a  person  of  your  rank,  taking  up  his 
quarters  in  a  barn,  would  excite  suspicion  among  your  friends 
in  Enghind." 

"  E  h!"  says  his  lordship. 

That  did  not  do — either  your  lordship's  head  or  mine  is  very 
thick,  thinks  I.  I'll  try  again,  though  dying  to  go  to  sleep, 
"  I  say,  my  lord,  if  the  people  in  England  knew  what  a  good 
sailor  you  are,  they  w^ould  be  surprised  at  nothing  you  did;  but 
those  who  know  nothing,  would  think  it  odd  that  you  should  be 
contented  with  such  quarte-rs." 

"  Ah  !"  said  his  lordship,  triumphantly. 

What  farther  observation  he  was  pleased  to  make  that  night,  ■ 
I  know  not,  for  I  fell  fast  asleep,  and  did  not  awake  till  the 
cocks  and  hens  began  to  fly  down  frorii  their  roosts,  and  make 
a  confounded  clamour  for  their  breakfast,  when  his  lordship 
jumped  up,  gave  himself  a  good  shake,  and  then  gave  me 
another  of  a  diilerent  sort;  it  announced  the  purpose,  however, 
of  restoring  me  to  that  reason,  of  which  the  cackling  of  the 
poultry  had  only  produced  the  incipient  signs. 

"  Come,  rouse  out,  you  d — d  lazy  cliap,"  said  my  captain  ; 
"  do  you  mean  to  sleep  all  day  ?  we  have  got  plenty  to  do." 

"Ay,  ay,  ray  lord,"  said  I.  So  up  I  jumped,  and  my  toilet 
was  completed  in  the  same  time,  and  l»y  the  same  operation, 
as  that  of  a  Newfoundland  dog,  namely,,  a  good  shake. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  177 

A  large  party  of  the  ship's  company  came  on  shore  with  the 
carpenter,  bringing  with  them  every  implement  useful  in  cut- 
down  trees,  and  bnildiiig  log-houses,  fiuch  was  to  be  our 
occupation,  in  order  to  house  these  poor  emigrants.  Our  men 
began  to  clear  a  patch  of  land,  by  cutting  down  a  number  of 
pine  trees,  the  almost  exclusive  natives  of  the  wood,  and,  hav- 
ing selected  a  spot  for  the  foundation,  we  placed  four  stems  of 
trees  in  a  parallelogram,  having  a  deep  notch  in  each  end, 
mutually  to  fit  and  embrace  each  other.  When  the  walls,  by 
this  repeated  operation,  were  high  enough,  we  laid  on  the  raf- 
ters, and  covered  the  roof  with  boughs  of  the  fir,  and  the  bark 
of  the  birch  tree,  filling  the  interstices  with  moss  and  mud. 
By  practice,  I  became  a  very  expert  euguieer,  and  with  the 
assistance  of  thirty  or  forty  men,  I  could  build  a  very  good 
house  in  a  day. 

We  next  cleared,  by  burnmg  and  rooting  up,  as  much  land 
as  would  serve  to  sustain  the  little  colony  for  the  ensuing  sea- 
son ;  and,  having  planted  a  crop  of  corn  and  potatoes,  and 
given  the  settlers  many  articles  useful  in  their  new  abode,  we 
hift  them  agreeably  to  our  orders,  and  to  my  great  joy  re- 
turned to  dear  Halifax,  where  I  was  again  blessed  with 
the  sight  of  my  innocent  harem.  I  remember  well  that  I  re- 
ceived a  severe  rebuke  from  the  captain  for  inattention  to  sig- 
nals. One  was  addressed  to  us  from  the  flag-ship  ;  I  was  sig- 
nal midshipman  ;  but  instead  of  directing  my  glass  towards 
the  old  Centurion,  it  was  levelled  at  a  certain  young  Calypso, 
whose  fair  form  I  discovered  wandering  along  the  "  gazon 
Jleuris :"  how  long  would  I  not  have  dwelt  in  this  happy  Arca- 
dia, had  not  another  Mentor  pushed  me  off  the  rocks,  and  sent 
me  once  more  to  buffet  the  briny  waves  ! 

Contrary  to  the  opinion  of  any  rational  being,  the  President 
of  the  United  States  was  i)lanning  a  war  against  England,  and 
every  ship  in  Halifax  harbour  was  preparing  to  fight  the 
Yankees.  The  squadron  sailed  in  September.  I  bade  adieu 
to  the  Nymphs  of  Nova  Scotia  with  more  indifference  than  be- 
came me,  or  than  the  reception   I   had  met  with  from  them 

8* 


178 


FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 


seemed  to  deserve  ;  but  I  was  the  same  selfish  and  migrateful 
being  as  ever.  I  cared  for  no  one  but  my  own  dear  self,  and 
as  long  as  T  was  gratified,  it  mattered  little  to  me  how  many 
broken  hearts  I  left  behind. 


CHAPTER   XIV. 

At  once  the  winds  arise, 
The  thunders  roll,  the  forky  lightning  fliee ; 
In  vain  the  master  issues  out  commands, 
In  vain  the  trembling  sailors  ply  their  hands ; 
The  tempest  unforeseen  prevents  their  care. 
And  from  the  first  they  labour  in  despair. 

Dryden's  Fables. 

Halifax  is  a  charming,  hospitable  place  :  its  name  is  asso- 
ciated with  so  many  pleasing  recollections,  that  it  never  fails 
to  extort  another  glass  from  the  bottle  w^hich,  having  been 
gagged,  was  going  to  pass  the  night  in  the  cellaret.  But  only 
say  "  Halifax  !"  and  it  is  like  "  Open  sesame  !" — out  flies  the 
cork,  and  down  goes  a  bumper  to  the  "health  of  all  good 
lasses  !" 

I  related,  in  the  last  chapter,  an  adventure  with  an  Irish 
Guineaman,  whose  cargo  my  right  honourable  captain  converted 
to  the  profitable  uses  of  himself  and  his  country.  Another  of 
these  vessels  had  been  fallen  in  with  by  one  of  our  cruisers,  and 
the  commander  of  his  majesty's  sloop  the  Humming-bird,  made 
a  selection  of  some  thirty  or  forty  stout  Hibernians  to  fill 
up  his  own  complement,  and  handed  over  the  surplus  to  the 
admiral. 

Short-sighted  mortals  we  all  are,  and  captains  of  men-of-wai 
are  not  exempted  from  this  human  imperfection  !  How  much, 
also,  drops  between  the  cup  and  the  lip  I  There  chanced 
to  ])e  on  board  the  same  trader  two -very  pretty  Irish  girls 
of  flic  better  sort  of  bourgeoisie  ;  they  were  going  to  join 
their  friends  at  rhiladeli)hia  ;  the  name  of  the  one  was  Ju'dy, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  119 

and  of  the  other  Maria.  No  sooner  were  the  poor  Irishmen 
informed  of  their  change,  of  destination,  than  they  set  up  a 
howl  lond  enough  to  make  the  scaly  monsters  of  the  deep 
seek  their  dark  jcaverns.  They  rent  the  hearts  of  the  poor 
tender-hearted  girls  ;  and  when  the  thorough  bass  of  the  males 
was  joined  by  the  sopranos  and  trebles  of  the  women  and 
children,  it  would  have  made  Orpheus  himself  turn  round  and 
gaze. 

"  Oh,  Miss  Judy  !  Oh,  Miss  Maria  !  would  ye  be  so  cruel 
as  to  see  us  poor  craturs"  dragged  away  to  a  man-of-war,  and 
not  for  to  go  and  spake  a  word  for  us?  A  word  to  the 
captain  wid  your  own  pretty  mouths,  no  doubt  he  would  let 
us  off." 

The  young  ladies,  though  doubting  the  powers  of  their  own 
fascinations,  resolved  to  make  the  experiment  ;  so  begging 
the  lieutenant  of  the  sloop  to  give  them  a  passage  on  board, 
to  speak  with  his  captain,  they  added  a  small  matter  of  finery 
to  their  dress,  and  skipped  into  the  boat  like  a  couple  of  moun- 
tain kids,  caring  neither  for  the  exposure  of  legs  nor  the  spray 
of  the  salt  water,  which,  though  it  took  the  curls  out  of  their 
hair,  added  a  bloom  to  the  cheeks,  which,  perhaps,  contributed 
in  no  small  degree  to  the  success  of  their  project. 

There  is  something  in  the  sight  of  a  petticoat  at  sea  that 
never  fails  to  put  a  luan  into  a  good  humour,  provided  he 
Ije  rightly  constructed.  When  they  got  on  board  the  Ilum- 
ming-bird,  they  were  received  by  the  captain,  and  handed 
down  into  the  cabin,  where  some  refreshments  were  imme- 
diately prepared  for  them,  and  every  kind  attention  shown 
which  their  sex  and  beauty  could  demand.  The  captain  was 
one  of  the  best-naturcd  fellows  that  ever  lived,  "vvith  a  pair 
of  little  sparkling  black  eyes,  that  laughed  in  your  face. 

"  And  pray,  young  ladies,"  said  he,  "  what  may  have  pro- 
cured me  the  honour  of  tliis  visit  ?" 

"  It  was  to  beg  a  favour  of  your  honour,"  said  Judy. 

"  And  his  honour  will  grant  it,  too,"  said  Maria  ;  "  for  I 
like  the  look  of  hl:ii." 


180  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

Flattered  by  this  little  shot  of  Maria's,  the  captain  said 
that  nothing  ever  gave  him  more  pleasure  than  to  oblige  the 
ladies  ;  and  if  the  favour  they  intended  to  ask  was  not  utterly 
incompatible  with  his  duty,  that  he  would  grant  it. 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Maria,  "  will  your  honour  give  me  back 
Pat  Flannagan,  that  you  have  pressed  just  now  ?" 

The  captain  shook  his  head. 

"  He's  no  sailor,  your  honour  ;  but  a  poor  bog-trotter  ;  and 
he  will  never  do  you  any  good." 

The  captain  again  shook  his  head. 

"Ask  me  anything  else,"  said  he,  "  and  I  will  give  it  you." 

"  Well,  then,"  said  Maria,  "  give  us  Felim  O'Shaugnessy  V 

The  captain  was  equally  inflexible, 

"  Come,  come,  your  honour,"  said  Judy,  "  we  must  not  stand 
upon  trifles  uow-a-days.  I'll  give  you  a  kiss,  if  you'll  give  me 
Pat  Flannagan." 

"  And  I  another,"  said  Maria,  "  for  Felim." 

The  captain  had  one  seated  on  each  side  of  him  ;  his  head 
turned  round  like  a  dog-vane  in  a  gale  of  wind  ;  he  did  not 
know  which  to  begin  with  ;  the  most  ineffable  good  humour 
danced  in  his  eyes  ;  and  the  ladies  saw  at  once  that  the  day 
was  their  own.  Such  is  the  power  of  beauty,  that  this  lord 
of  the  ocean  was  fain  to  strike  to  it.  Judy  laid  a  kiss  on 
his  right  cheek  ;  Maria  matched  it  on  his  left  ;  the  captain 
was  tlie  happiest  of  mortals. 

"Well,  then,"  said  he,  "you  have  your  wish  ;  take  your  two 
men,  for  I  am  in  a  hurry  to  make  sail." 

"  Is  it  sail  ye  are  after  making  ;  and  do  you  mane  to  take 
all  those  pretty  craturs  away  wid  ye  ?  No  faith  I  another  kiss, 
and  another  man." 

I  am  not  going  to  relate  how  many  kisses  these  lovely  girls 
bestowed  on  this  envied  captain.  If  such  are  captain's  per- 
quisites, who  would  not  be  a  captain  ?  Suffice  it  to  say,  they 
released  the  whole  of  their  countrymen,  aiul  returned  on  board 
in  triumph.  The  story  I'eached  Halifax',  where  the  good- 
humoured  adnn'ral  only  said  he  was  soitv  ho  was  not  a  captain. 


THE    NAVAT,    OFFICER.  181 

and  all  the  hapjjy  society  made  themselves  very  merry  with 
it.  The  captain,  who  is  as  brave  as  he  is  good,  was  promoted 
soon  after,  entirely  from  his  own  intrinsic  merit,  but  not  for 
this  action,  in  which  candour  and  friendship  must  acknow- 
ledge he  was  defeated.  The  lord  chancellor  used  to  say,  he 
always  laughed  at  the  settlement  of  pin-money,  as  ladies  were 
generally  either  kicked  out  of  it,  or  kissed  out  of  it  ;  but 
his  lordship,  in  the  whole  course  of  his  legal  practice,  never 
savr  a  captain  of  a  man-of-war  kissed  out  of  forty  men  by 
two  pretty  Irish  girls.  After  this,  who  would  not  shout  "Erin 
go  bragh!" 

Dashing  with  a  fine  breeze  out  of  the  harbour,  I  saw  with 
joy  the  field  of  fortune  open  to  me,  holding  out  a  fair  promise 
of  glory  and  riches.  "  Adieu  !"  said  I,  in  my  heart,  "  adieu, 
ye  lovely  Nova  Scotians  !  learn  in  future  to  distinguish  between 
false  glitter  and  real  worth.  Me  ye  prized  for  a  handsome 
person  and  a  smooth  tongue,  while  you  foolishly  rejected  men 
of  ten  times  my  worth,  because  they  wanted  the  outward 
blandishments." 

We  were  ordered  to  Bermuda,  and  on  our  first  quitting 
the  port  steered  away  to  the  southward  with  a  fair  wind 
at  north-west.  This  breeze  soon  freshened  into  a  gale  at 
south-east,  and  blew  with  some  violence,  but  after  a  while  it 
died  away  to  a  perfect  calm,  leaving  a  heavy  swell,  in  which 
the  ship  rolled  incessantly.  About  eleven  o'clock  the  sky 
began  to  blacken  ;  and  before  noon,  had  assumed  an  appear- 
ance of  the  most  dismal  and  foreboding  darkness  ;  the  sea- 
gulls screamed  as  they  flew  distracted  by,  warning  us  to 
prepare  for  the  approaching  hurricane,  whose  symptoms  could 
hardly  be  mistaken.  The  warning  was  not  lost  upon  us,  most 
of  our  sails  were  taken  in,  and  we  had,  as  we  thought,  so 
well  secured  every  thing,  as  to  bid  defiance  to  the  ^torrn 
About  noon  it  came  with  a  sudden  and  terrific  violence  that 
astonished  the  oldest  and  most  experienced  seamen  among 
us  ;  the  noise  it  made  was  horrible,  and  its  ravages  incon 
ceivable. 


182  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

The  wind  was  from  the  north-west — the  water,  as  it  blew  on 
board,  and  all  over  us,  was  as  warm  as  milk;  the  murkiness  and 
close  smell  of  the  air  was  in  a  short  time  dispelled;  but  such 
was  the  violence  of  the  wind,  that,  on  the  moment  of  its  striking 
the  ship,  she  lay  over  on  her  side,  with  her  lee  guns  under 
water.  Every  article  that  could  move  was  danced  to  leeward; 
The  shot  flew  out  of  the  lockers,  and  the  greatest  confusion  and 
dismay  prevailed  below,  while  above  deck  things  went  still 
worse ;  the  mizzen-mast  and  the  fore  and  main  top-mast  went  over 
the  side ;  but  such  was  the  noise  of  the  wind,  that  we  could  not 
hear  them  fall ;  nor  did  I,  who  was  standing  close  to  the  mizzen- 
mast  at  the  moment,  know  it  was  gone,  until  I  turned  round 
and  saw  the  stump  of  the  mast  snapped  in  two  like  a  carrot. 
The  noise  of  the  wind  "  waxed  louder  and  louder;"  it  Avas  like 
one  continued  peal  of  thunder;  and  the  enormous  waves,  as 
they  rose,  were  instantly  beheaded  by  its  fury,  and  sent  in 
foaming  spray  along  the  bosom  of  the  deep ;  the  storm  stay-sails 
flew  to  atoms;  the  captain,  officers,  and  men,  stood  aghast, 
looking  at  each  other,  and  waiting  the  awful  event  in  utter 
amazement. 

The  ship  lay  over  on  the  larboard  side  so  heavily  as  to  force 
in  the  gun  ports  and  the  nettings  of  the  waist  hammocks,  and 
seemed  as  if  settling  bodily  down;  while  large  masses  of  water, 
by  the  force  of  the  wind,  were  whirled  up  into  the  air;  and 
others  were  pouring  down  the  hatchways,  which  we  had  not 
had  time  to  batten  down,  and  before  we  had  succeeded,  the 
lower  deck  was  half  full,  and  the  chests  and  hammocks  were 
all  floating  about  in  dreadful  disorder.  The  sheep,  cow,  pigs, 
and  poultry,  were  all  washed  overboard  out  of  the  waist  and 
drowned;  no  voice  could  be  heard,  and  no  orders  were  given; 
all  discipline  was  suspended;  every  man  was  equal  to  his  neigh- 
bour; captain  and  sweeper  clung  alike  to  the  same  rope  for 
security. 

The  carpenter  wais  for  cutting  away  the  masts,  but  the  cap- 
tain would  not  consent.  A  seaman  crawled  aft  on  the  quarter- 
deck, and  screaming  in  the  car  of  the  captain,  informed  him 


THR    NAVAL    OFFICER.  183 

that  one  of  the  anchors  had  broke  adrift,  and  was  hanj^ing  by 
the  cable  under  the  bows.  To  have  let  it  remain  long  in  this 
situation  was  certain  destruction  to  the  ship,  and  I  was  ordered 
forward  to  see  it  cut  away;  but  so  much  had  the  gale  and  the 
sea  increased  in  a  few  minutes,  that  a  passage  to  the  forecastle 
was  not  to  be  found  :  on  the  weather  side,  the  wind  and  sea 
were  so  violent  that  no  man  could  face  them.  I  was  blown 
against  the  boats,  and  with  difficulty  got  back  to  the  quarter- 
deck; and  going  over  to  leeward,  I  swam  along  the  gangway 
under  the  lee  of  the  boats,  and  delivered  the  orders,  which,  with 
infinite  difficulty,  at  last  were  executed. 

On  the  forecastle,  I  found  the  oldest  and  stoutest  seamen 
holding  on  l)y  the  weather  rigging  and  crying  like  children  :  I 
was  surprised  at  this,  and  felt  proud  to  be  above  such  weak- 
ness. While  my  superiors  in  age  and  experience  were  sinking 
under  apprehension,  I  was  aware  of  our  danger,  and  saw  very 
clearly,  that  if  the  frigate  did  not  right  very  shortly,  it  would 
be  all  over  with  us;  for  in  spite  of  our  precautions,  the  water 
was  increasing  below.  I  swam  back  to  the  quarter-deck,  where 
the  captain,  who  was  as  brave  a  man  as  ever  trod  a  plank, 
stood  at  the  wheel  with  three  of  the  best  seamen;  but  such 
were  the  rude  shocks  which  the  rudder  received  from  the  sea, 
that  it  was  with  the  utmost  difficulty  they  could  prevent  them- 
selves being  thrown  over  the  ship's  side.  The  lee  quarter-deck 
guns  were  under  water ;  but  it  was  proposed  to  throw  them 
oyerboard;  and  as  it  was  a  matter  of  life  and  death,  we  suc- 
ceeded. Still  she  lay  like  a  log,  and  would  not  right,  and 
settled  down  in  a  very  alarming  manner.  The  violence  of  the 
hurricane  was  unabated,  and  the  general  feeling  seemed  to  be, 
"  To  i)rayers  ! — to  prayers  1 — all  is  lost  !" 

The  fore  and  main  masts  still  stood,  supporting  the  weight 
of  rigging  and  wreck  which  hung  to  them,  and  which,  like  a 
powerful  lever,  pressed  the  labouring  ship  down  on  her  side. 
To  disengage  this  enormous  top  hamper,  was  to  us  an  object 
more  to  be  desired  than  expected.  Yet  the  case  was  desperate, 
and  a  desperate  effort  was  to  be  made,  or  in  half  an  hour  we 


184  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

should  have  been  past  praying  for,  except  by  a  Roman  Catholic 
priest.  The  clanger  of  sending  a  man  aloft  was  so  imminent, 
that  the  captain  would  not  order  one  on  this  service;  but  call- 
ing the  ship's  company  on  the  quarter-deck,  pointed  to  the 
impending  wreck,  and  by  signs  and  gestures,  and  hard  bawling, 
convinced  them  that  unless  the  ship  was  immediately  eased  of 
her  burden,  she  must  go  down. 

At  this  moment  every  wave  seemed  to  make  a  deeper  and 
more  fatal  impression  on  her.  She  descended  rapidly  in  the 
hollows  of  the  sea,  and  rose  with  dull  and  exhausted  motion,  as 
if  she  felt  she  could  do  no  more.  She  was  worn  out  in  the 
contest,  and  about  to  surrender,  like  a  noble  and  battered  fort- 
ress, to '  the  overwhelming  power  of  her  enemies.  The  men 
seemed  stupefied  with  the  danger;  and  I  have  no  doubt,  could 
they  have  got  at  the  spirits,  would  have  made  themselves  drunk, 
and  in  that  state  have  met  their  inevitable  fate.  At  every 
lurch,  the  main  mast  appeared  as  if  making  the  most  violent 
efforts  to  disengage  itself  from  the  ship  :  the  weather  shrouds 
became  like  straight  bars  of  iron,  while  the  lee  shrouds  hung 
over  in  a  semi-circle  to  leeward,  or,  with  the  weather-roll, 
banging  against  the  mast,  threatened  instant  destruction  each 
moment,  from  the  convulsive  jerks.  We  expected  to  see  the 
masts  fall,  and  with  it  the  side  of  the  ship  to  be  beat  in.  No 
man  could  be  found  daring  enough,  at  the  captain's  request,  to 
venture  aloft,  and  cut  away  the  wreck  of  the  main-top  mast 
and  the  main-yard,  which  was  hanging  up  and  down,  with  the 
weight  of  the  top-mast  and  top-sail  yard  resting  upon  it.  There 
was  a  dead  and  stupid  pause,  while  the  hurricane,  if  anything, 
increased  in  violence. 

I  confess  that  I  felt  gratified  at  this  acknowledgmeut  of  a 
danger  which  none  dare  face.  I  waited  a  few  seconds  to  see  if 
a  volunteer  would  step  forward,  resolved,  if  he  did,  that  I  would 
be  liis  enemy  for  life,  inasmuch  as  he  would  have  robbed  me  of 
the  gratification  of  my  darling  ])assion — unbounded  pride. 
Dangers,  in  common  with  otliers,  1  had  often  faced,  and  been 
the  first  to  encounter;  but  to  dare  that  which  the  gallant  and 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER,  185 

hardy  crew  of  a  frigate  bad  declined,  was  a  climax  of  superior- 
ity which  1  had  never  dreamed  of  attaining.  Seizing  a  sharp 
tomahawk,  I  made  signs  to  the  captain  that  I  would  attempt 
to  cut  away  the  wreck,  follow  me  who  dared.  I  mounted  the 
weather-rigging;  five  or  six  hardy  seamen  followed  me;  sailors 
will  rarely  refuse  to  follow  where  they  find  an  officer  to  lead  the 
way. 

The  jerks  of  the  rigging  had  nearly  thrown  us  overboard,  or 
jammed  us  with  the  wreck.  We  were  forced  to  embrace  the 
shrouds  with  arms  and  legs,  and  anxiously,  and  with  breathless 
apprehension  for  our  lives,  did  the  captain,  officers,  and  crew, 
gaze  on  us  as  we  mounted,  and  cheered  us  at  every  stroke  of  the 
tomahawk.  The  danger  seemed  passed  when  we  reached  the 
cat-harpings,  where  we  had  foot  room.  We  divided  our  work ; 
some  took  the  lanyards  of  the  topmast  rigging,  I,  the  slings  of 
the  mainyard.  The  lusty  blows  we  dealt  were  answered  by 
corresponding  crashes;  and  at  length,  down  fell  the  tremendous 
wreck  over  the  larboard  gunwale.  The  ship  felt  instant  relief ; 
she  righted,  and  we  descended  amidst  the  cheers,  the  applauses, 
the  congratulations,  and,  I  may  add,  the  tears  of  gratitude,  of 
most  of  our  shipmates.  The  work  now  l)ecame  lighter,  the  gale 
abated  every  moment,  the  wreck  was  gradually  cleared  away, 
and  we  forgot  our  cares. 

This  was  the  i)roudest  moment  of  my  life,  and  no  earthly 
possession  would  I  have  taken  in  exchange  for  what  I  felt 
when  I  once  more  placed  my  foot  on  the  quarter-deck.  The 
approving  smile  of  the  captain — the  hearty  shake  by  the  hand 
— the  praise  of  the  officers — the  eager  gaze  of  the  ship's  com- 
pany, who  looked  on  me  with  astonishment  and  obeyed  me 
with  alacrity,  were  something  in  my  mind,  when  abstractedly 
considered,  but  nothing  compared  with  the  inward  feeling  of 
gratified  ambition,  a  passion  so  intimately  interwoven  in  my 
existence,  that  to  have  eradicated  it,  the  whole  fabric  of  my 
frame  must  have  been  demolished.     I  felt  pride  justified. 

Hurricanes  are  rarely  of  long  continuance  ;  this  was  suc- 
ceeded by  a  gale,  whicls,  though  strong,  was  fine  weather  com- 


186  PRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

pared  to  what  we  had  seen.  We  fell  to  work,  rigged  our 
jury-mast,  and  in  a  few  days  presented  ourselves  to  the  welcome 
gaze  of  the  town  of  Halifax,  which,  having  felt  the  full  force 
of  the  hurricane,  expressed  very  considerable  alarm  for  our 
safety.  My  arms  and  legs  did  not  recover  for  some  time  from 
the  effects  of  the  bruises  I  had  received  in  going  aloft,  and  for 
some  days  I  remained  on  board.  When  I  recovered  I  went  on 
shore,  and  was  kindly  and  affectionately  received  by  my  numer- 
ous friends. 

I  had  not  been  long  at  Halifax,  before  a  sudden  change  took 
place  in  my  captain  towards  me.  The  cause  I  could  never 
exactly  discover,  though  I  had  given  myself  some  room  for 
conjecture.  I  must  confess,  with  sorrow,  that  notwithstanding 
his  kindness  to  me  on  every  occasion,  and  notwithstanding  my 
high  respect  for  him,  as  an  officer  and  a  gentleman,  I  had 
raised  a  laugh  against  him.  But  he  was  too  good-humoured  a 
man  to  be  offended  at  such  a  harmless  act  of  youthful  levity  ; 
and  five  minutes  were  usually  the  limits  of  anger  with  this 
amiable  man,  on  such  occasions  as  I  am  about  to  relate. 

The  fact  was  this:  my  truly  noble  captain  sported  a  remark- 
ably wide  pair  of  blue  trowsers.  Whether  he  thought  it  sailor- 
like, or  whether  his  tailor  was  afraid  of  putting  his  lordship  to 
sliort  allowance  of  cloth,  for  fear  of  phlogistic  consequences,  I 
know  not  ;  but  broad  as  was  the  beam  of  his  lordship,  still 
broader  and  more  ample  in  proportion  were  the  folds  of  this 
essential  part  of  his  drapery,  quite  enough  to  have  embraced 
twice  the  volume  of  human  flesh  contained  within  them,  large 
as  it  undoubtedly  was. 

That  "  a  stitch  in  time  saves  nine,"  is  a  wise  saw  ;  unhap- 
pily, like  many  others  of  the  same  thrifty  kind,  but  little  heeded 
in  this  our  day.  So  it  was  with  Lord  Edward.  A  rent  had, 
by  some  mischance,  been  made  in  the  central  seam,  and,  on  the 
morning  of  the  hurricane,  was  Rtill  unmended.  When  the  gale 
came,  it  sought  a  quarrel  with  any  thing  it  could  lay  hold  of, 
and  the  harmless  trowsers  of  Lord  Edward  became  subject  to 
its  mighty  and  resistless  devastation  ;  the  blustering  Boreas 


THR    NAVAL    OFFICER.  187 

entered  by  the  seam  afores'aid,  and  filled  the  trowsers  like  the 
cheeks  of  a  trumpeler.  Yorksliirc  wool  could  not  .stand  the 
inflated  pressure — the  dress  split  to  ribbons,  and  soundly  flage- 
lated  the  very  part  it  was  intended  to  conceal.  What  could  he 
do,  "  in  sweet  confusion  lost  and  dubious  Jluiferijigs  " — the  only 
defence  left  against  the  rude  blast  was  his  shirt,  (for  the  wea- 
ther was  so  warm  that  second  garments  were  dispensed  with), 
and  this  too,  being  old,  fled  in  tatters  before  the  gale.  In 
short,  clap  a  sailor's  jacket  on  the  Gladiator  in  Hyde-park,  and 
you  have   a  fair  view  of  Lord  Edward  in  the  hurricane. 

The  ease  was  inconvenient  enough  ;  but  as  the  ship  was  in 
distress,  and  we  all  expected  to  go  to  the  bottom  in  half  an 
hour,  it  was  not  worth  while  to  quit  the  deck  to  replace  the 
dress,  which  would  have  availed  him  nothing  in  the  depths  of 
the  sea,  particularly  as  we  were  not  likely  to  meet  with  any 
ladies  there:  nor  if  there  had  been  any,  was  it  a  matter  of  any 
moment  whether  we  went  to  Davy's  Locker  with  or  without 
breeches  ;  but  when  the  danger  was  passed,  the  joke  began  to 
ajjpear,  and  I  was  amusing  a  large  company  with  the  tale  when 
his  lordship  came  in.  The  titter  of  the  ladies  increased  to  a 
giggle,  and  then,  by  regular  gradation,  to  a  loud  and  uncon- 
trollal)le  laugh.  He  very  soon  discovered  that  he  was  the  sub- 
ject, and  I  the  cause,  and  for  a  minute  or  two  seemed  sulky  ; 
but  it  soon  went  ofl",  and  I  cannot  think  this  was  the  reason  uf  his 
change  of  sentiments  ;  for  although  it  is  high  treason  in  a  mid- 
shipman to  look  black  at  the  captain's  dog,  much  less  to  laugh  at 
the  captain  under  any  circumstances,  still  I  knew  that  my  cap- 
tain was  too  good  a  fellow  to  be  offended  with  such  a  trifle.  I 
rather  suspect  I  was  wished  out  of  the  ship  by  the  first-lieute- 
nant and  gun-room  officers  ;  and  they  wera  I'ight,  for  where  an 
inferior  ofiBcer  is  popular  with  the  men,  discipline  must  suffer 
from  it.  I  received  a  good-natured  hint  from  Lord  Edward, 
that  another  captain,  in  a  larger  frigate  would  be  hapjiy  to 
receive  me.  I  understood  him  ;  w^e  parted  good  friends,  and  I 
shall  ever  think  of  him  with  respect  and  gratitude. 

My  new  captain  was  a  very  different  sort  of  man,  refined  in 


1S8  FRANK    MTLDMAT  ;    OR, 

his  manners,  a  scliolar  and  a  gentleman.  Kind  and  friendly 
with  his  officers,  his  library  was  at  their  disposal  ;  the  fore- 
cabin,  where  his  books  were  usually  kept,  was  open  to  all  ;  it 
was  the  school-room  of  the  young  midshipmen,  and  the  study 
of  the  old  ones.  He  was  an  excellent  draughtsman,  mil  1  pro- 
fited not  a  little  by  his  instnictions  ;  he  loved  the  society  of 
the  ladies,  so  did  I  ;  but  he  being  a  married  man  was  more 
select  in  his  company,  and  more  correct  in  his  conduct  than  I 
could  pretend  to  be. 

We  were  ordered  to  Quebec,  sailed  through  the  beautiful 
Gut  of  Canso,  and  up  the  spacious  and  majestic  St.  Lawrence, 
passing  in  sight  of  the  Island  of  Anticosti.  Nothing  material 
occurred  during  the  passage,  save  that  a  Scotch  surgeon's 
assistant,  having  adopted  certain  aristocratic  notions,  required 
a  democratical  lecture  on  heads,  which  was  duly  administered 
to  him.  He  pretended  that  he  was,  by  birth  and  education, 
(at  Edinburgh),  entitled  to  be  at  the  head  of  our  niess.  This 
I  resisted,  and  soon  taught  the  ambitious  son  of  Esculapius  that 
the  science  of  defence  was  as  important  as  the  art  of  healing  ; 
and  that  if  he  was  skillful  in  this  latter,  I  would  give  him  an 
opportunity  of  employing  it  on  his  own  person  :  whereupon  I 
implanted  on  his  sinciput,  occiput,  os  frontis,  os  nasi,  and  all 
other  vulnerable  parts  of  his  body,  certain  concussions  calcu- 
lated to  stupefy  the  sensorium,  and  to  produce  under  each  eye 
a  quantity  of  black  extravasated  blood  ;  while  at  the  same 
time,  a  copious  stream  of  carmine  fluid  issued  from  either  nos- 
tril. It  was  never  my  habit  to  bully  or  take  any  unfair  advan- 
tage ;  so  having  perceived  a  cessation  of  arms  on  his  part,  I 
put  the  usual  interrogatives  as  to  whether  the  party  contending 
was  satisfied  ;  and  i)eing  answered  in  the  afifirmative,  I  laid  by 
my  metacarpal  bones  until  they  might  be  further  wanted, 
either  for  re))roof  or  correction. 

We  anchored  off  Cape  Diamond,  which  divides  the  St.  Law- 
rence from  the  little  river  St.  Charles.  The  continuation  of 
this  cape,  as  it  recedes,  forms  the  Heights  of  Abraham,  on 
wliich   the  immortal  W'olfc  defeated    Montcalm,   in  the  year 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  189 

1159,  wheu  both  the  geuerals  ended  their  glorious  career  on 
the  field  of  battle.  The  city  stands  on  the  extremity  of  the 
cape,  and  has  a  very  romantic  appearance.  The  houses  and 
churches  are  generally  covered  with  tin,  to  prevent  conflagra- 
tion, to  which  this  place  was  remarkably  subject  when  the 
houses  were  covered  with  thatch  or  shingle.  When  the  rays  of 
the  sun  lay  on  the  buildings,  they  had  the  appearance  of  being 
cased  in  silver. 

One  of  our' objects  in  going  to  Quebec  was  to  procure  men, 
of  which  the  squadron  was  very  deficient.  Our  seamen  and 
marines  were  secretly  and  suddenly  formed  into  press-gangs. 
The  command  of  one  of  them  was  conferred  on  me.  The 
officers  and  marines  went  on  shore  in  disguise,  having  agreed 
on  private  signals  and  places  of  rendezvous  ;  while  the  seamen 
on  whom  we  could  depend,  acted  as  decoy-ducks,  pretending 
to  belong  to  merchant  vessels^  of  which  their  officer  was  the 
master,  and  inducing  them  to  engage  for  ten  gallons  of  rum 
and  three  hundred  dollars,  to  take  the  run  home.  Many  were 
procured  in  this  manner,  and  were  not  undeceived  until  they 
found  themselves  alongside  of  the  frigate,  wheu  their  oaths 
and  execrations  may  be  better  conceived  than  described  or 
repeated. 

It  may  be  proper  to  explain  here,  that  the  vessels  employed 
in  the  timber  trade  arrive  in  the  month  of  June,  as  soon  as  the 
ice  is  clear  of  the  river,  and,  if  they  do  not  sail  by  or  before 
the  end  of  October,  are  usually  set  fast  in  the  ice,  and  forced 
to  winter  in  the  St.  Lawrence,  losing  their  voyage,  and  lying 
seven  or  eight  months  idle.  Aware  of  this,  the  sailors,  as  soon 
as  they  arrive,  desert,  and  are  secreted  and  fed  by  the  crimps, 
who  make  their  market  of  them  in  the  fall  of  the  year  by  sell- 
ing them  to  the  captains  ;  procuring  for  the  men  an  exorbitant 
sum  for  the  voyage  home,  and  for  themselves  a  handsome  doii, 
ceur  for  their  trouble,  both  from  the  captain  and  the  sailor. 

We  were  desired  not  to  take  men  out  of  the  merchant  ves- 
sels, but  to  search  for  them  in  the  houses  of  the  crimps.  This 
was  to  us  a  source  of  great  amusement  and  singular  adventure; 


190 


FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 


for  the  ingenuity  iu  concealing  them  was  only  equalled  by  the 
irt  and  canning  exercised  in  the  discovery  of  their  abodes. 
Cellars  and  lofts  were  stale  and  out  of  use  ;  we  found  more 
game  in  the  interior  of  haystacks,  church  steeples,  closets,  under 
fire-places  where  the  fire  was  burning.  Some  we  found  headed 
up  in  sugar-hogsheads,  and  some  concealed  within  bundles  of 
hoop-staves.  Sometimes  we  found  seamen,  dressed  as  gentle- 
men, drinking  wine  and  talking  with  the  greatest  familiarity 
with  people  much  above  them  in  rank,  who  had  used  these 
means  to  conceal  them.  Our  information  led  us  to  detect  these 
excusable  impositions. 

I  went  into  the  country,  about  fifteen  miles  from  Quebec, 
where  I  had  heard  of  a  crimp's  preserve,  and  after  a  tedious 
search,  discovered  some  good  seamen  on  the  rafters  of  an  out- 
house intended  only  to  smoke  and  cure  bacon  ;  and  as  the  fires 
were  lighted,  and  the  smoke  ascending,  it  was  difficult  to  con- 
ceive how  a  human  being  could  exist  there  :  nor  should  we  have 
discovered  them  if  one  of  them  had  not  coughed  ;  on  which  he 
received  the  execrations  of  the  others,  and  the  whole  party  was 
instantly  handed  out.  We  immediately  cut  the  strings  of  their 
trousers  behind,  to  prevent  their  running  away,  (this  ought 
never  to  be  omitted,)  and,  placing  them  and  ourselves  in  the 
farmer's  waggon,  made  him  put  his  team  to  and  drive  us  all  to 
Quebec,  the  new-raised  men  joining  with  our  own  in  all  the 
jokes  which  flew  thick  about  on  the  occasion  of  their  discovery. 
It  was  astonishing  to  me  how  easily  these  fine  fellows  reconciled 
themselves  to  the  thoughts  of  a  man-of-war  ;  perhaps  the 
approaching  row  with  the  Yankees  tended  very  much  to  pre- 
serve good  humour.  I  became  an  enthusiast  in  man-hunting, 
although  sober  reflection  has  since  convinced  me  of  its  cruelty, 
injustice,  and  inexpediency,  tending  to  drive  seamen  from  the 
country  more  than  any  measure  the  government  could  adopt  ; 
but  I  am  not  going  to  write  a  treatise  on  impressment.  I  cared 
not  one  farthing  about  the  liberty  of  the  subject,  as  long  as  I 
got  my  ship  well  manned  for  the  impending  conflict ;  and  as  I 
gratified  my  love  of  adventure,  T  was  as  thoughtless  of  the  con- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  191 

sequences  as  when  I  rode  over  a  farmer's  turnips #n  England,  or 
broke  through  his  hedges  iu  pursuit  of  a  fox. 

A  tradesman  at  Quebec  had  affronted  rae,  by  refusing  to  dis- 
count a  bill  which  I  had  drawn  on  my  father.  I  had  no  other 
means  of  paying  him  for  the  goods  I  had  purchased  of  him,  and 
was  much  disconcerted  at  his  refusal,  which  he  accompanied 
with  an  insult  to  myself  and  my  cloth,  never  to  be  forgotten. 
Turning  the  paper  over  and  over,  he  said,  "  A  midshipman's 
bill  is  not  worth  a  farthing,  and  I  am  too  old  a  bird  to  be 
caught  with  such  chaff." 

Conscious  that  the  bill  was  good,  I  vowed  revenge.  My 
search-warrant  enabled  me  to  go  wherever  I  could  get  informa- 
tion of  men  being  concealed — this  was  easily  obtained  from  a 
brother  mid  ;  (the  poor  man  might  as  well  have  been  in  the 
hands  of  the  holy  brotherhood.)  My  companion  stated  his 
firm  conviction  that  sailors  were  concealed  in  the  house  ;  I 
applied  to  the  captain,  and  received  orders  to  i^rocecd  by  all 
means  in  execution  of  my  duty.  The  tradesman  was  a  man  of 
consequence  in  Quebec,  being  what  is  there  called  a  large  store- 
keeper, though  we  in  England  should  have  called  him  a  shop- 
keeper. About  one  o'clock  iu  the  morning  we  hammered  at  his 
door  with  no  gentle  tap,  demanding  admittance  in  the  name  of 
our  sovereign  lord  the  king.  We  were  refused,  and  forthwith 
broke  open  the  door,  and  spread  over  his  house  like  a  nest  of 
cockroaches.  Cellars,  garrets,  maids'  rooms,  ladies'  rooms,  we 
entered,  sans  ceremonie  ;  paid  little  regard  to  the  Mediciau  cos- 
tume of  the  fair  occupants  ;  broke  some  of  the  most  indispen- 
sable articles  of  bed-room  furniture  ;  rattled  the  pots  and  pans 
about  the  kitchen  ;  and  finding  the  two  sons  of  the  master  of 
the  house,  ordered  them  to  dress  and  come  with  us,  certain,  we 
said,  that  they  were  sailors. 

When  the  old  tradesman  saw  me,  he  began  to  smell  a  rat, 
and  threatened  me  with  severe  punishment.  I  showed  him  my 
search-warrant,  and  asked  him  if  it  was  a  good  hill.  After 
having  inspected  every  part  of  the  house,  I  departed,  leaving 
the  two  young  cubs  half  dead  with  fear.  The  next  day  a  com- 
plaint was  lodged  at  the  government-house  ;  but  investigation 


192  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

is  a  long  word  when  a  mau-of-war  is  ordered  oa  service 
Despatches  from  Albany  reached  Quebec,  stating  that  the  Pre- 
sident of  the  United  States  had  declared  war  against  England; 
in  consequence  of  which,  our  captain  took  leave  of  the  gov- 
ernor, and  dropped  down  the  river  with  all  speed  :  so  I  never 
heard  any  more  of  my  tradesman. 

We  arrived  at  Halifax  full  manned,  and  immediately  received 
orders  to  proceed  to  sea,  "  to  sink,  burn,  and  destroy."  We 
ran  for  Boston  bay,  when,  on  the  morning  we  made  the  laud, 
we  discovered  ten  or  twelve  sail  of  merchant  vessels.  The  first 
we  boarded  was  a  brig  ;  one  of  our  boats  was  lowered  down  ; 
I  got  into  her  and  jumped  on  the  deck  of  the  Yankee,  while 
the  frigate  continued  in  chase  of  the  others.  The  master  of 
the  vessel  sat  on  the  hencoop,  and  did  not  condescend  to  rise 
or  otfer  me  the  least  salute  as  I  passed  him  ;  he  was  a  short, 
thick,  paunchy-looking  fellow. 

"  You  are  an  Englishman,  I  guess  ?" 

"  I  guess  I  am,"  I  said,  imitating  him  with  a  nasal  twang. 

"  I  thought  we  shouldn't  be  long  in  our  waters  afore  we  met 
some  of  you  old-country  sarpents.  No  harm  in  what  I've  said, 
I  hope  ?"  added  the  master. 

"  Oh,  no,"  said  I,  "  not  the  least  ;  it  will  make  no  difference 
in  the  long  run.  But  where  do  you  come  from,  and  where  are 
you  bound  ?" 

"  Come  from  Smyrna,  and  bound  to  Boston,  where  I  hope 
to  be  to-morrow  morning,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  and  a  good 
conscience." 

From  this  answer,  I  perceived  that  he  wiis  unacquainted  with 
the  war,  and  I  therefore  determined  to  play  with  him  a  little 
before  I  gave  him  the  fatal  news. 

"And  pray,"  said  I,  "what  might  your  cargo  consist  of? 
you  appear  to  be  light." 

"Not  so  light  neither,  I  guess,"  said  the  man  ;  "  we  have 
sweet  oil,  raisins,  and  what  we  calls  notions. 

"  I  have  no  notion,"  said  I,  "  what  they  might  be.  Pray, 
explain  yourself." 

"  Why,  you  see,  notions  is  what  we  call  a  little  of  all  sorts 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  193 

like.  Some  likes  one  thing,  you  know,  and  some  another  ; 
some  likes  sweet  almonds,  and  sonic  likes  silk,  and  some  likes 
opium,  and  some "  (he  added  with  a  cunning  grin)  "  likes 
dollars." 

"  And  are  these  the  notions  with  which  jou  are  loaded  ?" 
said  I. 

"  I  guess  they  are,"  replied  Jonathan. 

"  And  what  might  your  outward  cargo  have  been  ?"  said  I. 

"  Salt  fish,  flour,  and  tobacco,"  was  the  answer. 

"  And  is  that  all  you  have  in  return  ?"  I  asked.  "  I  thought 
the  Smyrna  trade  had  been  a  very  good  one." 

"  Well,  so  it  is,"  said  the  unwary  Yankee.  "  Thirty  thou- 
sand dollars  in  the  cabin,  besides  the  oil  and  the  rest  of  the 
goods,  an't  no  bad  thing." 

"  I  am  very  glad  to  hear  of  the  dollars,"  said  I. 

"  What  odds  does  that  make  to  you  ?"  said  the  captain  ;  "  it 
won't  be  much  on  'em  as  '11  come  to  your  share." 

"  More  than  you  may  think,"  said  I.  "  Have  you  heard  the 
new^s  as  you  came  along  ?" 

At  the  word  "  news,"  the  poor  man's  face  became  the  colour 
of  one  in  the  jaundice.  "  What  news  ?"  said  he,  in  a  state  of 
trepidation  that  hardly  admitted  of  utterance. 

"  Why,  only  that  your  president,  Mr.  Madison,  has  thought 
fit  to  declare  war  against  England." 

"  You're  only  joking  ?"  said  the  captain. 

"  I  give  you  my  word  of  honour  I  am  serious,"  said  I  ; 
"  and  your  vessel  is  a  prize  to  his  Britannic  Majesty's  ship, 
the ." 


The  poor  man  fetched  a  sigh  from  the  waistband  of  his 
trousers.  "  I  am  a  ruined  man,"  said  he.  "  I  only  wish  I'd 
known  a  little  sooner  of  the  war  you  talk  about.:  I've  got  two 
nice  little  guns  there  forward;  you  shouldn't  a  had  me  so  easily." 

I  srailefd  at  his  idea  of  resistance  against  a  fast-saiUng  frigate 
of  fifty  guns  ;  but  left  him  in  the  full  enjoyment  of  his  conceit, 
and  changing  the  subject,  asked  if  he  had  anything  he  could 
give  us  to  di'ink,  for  the  weather  was  very  warm. 

9 


194  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

''  Nq,  I  ha'nt,"  he  replied,  peevishly  ;  "  and  if  I  had " 

"  Come,  come,  my  good  fellow,"  said  I,  "  you  forget  you  ^re 
a  prize  ;  civility  is  a  cheap  article,  and  may  bring  you  a  quick 
return." 

"  That's  true,"  said  Jonathan,  who  was  touched  on  the 
nicest  point — self  ;  "  that's  true,  you  are  only  doing  your  duty. 
Here,  boy,  fetch  up  that  demijohn  of  Madeira,  and  for  aught  I 
know,  the  young  officer  might  like  a  drop  o'  long  cork  ;  bring 
us  some  tumblers,  and  one  o'  the  claret  bottles  out  o'  the  star 
board  after-locker." 

The  boy  obeyed,  and  the  articles  quickly  appeared.  While 
this  dialogue  was  going  on,  the  frigate  was  in  chase,  firing  guns, 
and  bringing-to  the  diflferent  vessels  as  she  passed  them,  drop- 
ping a  boat  on  board  of  one,  and  making  sail  after  another. 
We  stood  after  her  with  all  the  sail  we  could  conveniently 
carry. 

"Pray,"  said  the  captain,  "might  I  offer  you  a  bit  of 
something  to  eat  ?  I  guess  you  ha'n't  dined  yet,  as  it's  quite 
meridian.'' 

I  thanked  him,  and  accepted  his  offer:  he  ran  down  instantly 
to  the  cabin,  as  if  to  prepare  for  my  reception  ;  but  I  rather 
thought  he  wished  to  place  some  articles  out  of  my  sight,  and 
this  proved  to  be  the  case,  for  he  stole  a  bag  of  dollars  out  of 
the  cargo.  In  a  short  thne  I  was  invited  down.  A  leg  of 
cured  pork,  and  a  roasted  fowl,  were  very  acceptable  to  a  mid- 
shipman at  any  time,  but  particularly  so  to  me  ;  and,  when 
accompanied  by  a  few  glasses  of  the  Madeira,  the  barometer  of 
my  spirits  rose  in  proportion  to  the  depression  of  his. 

"Come,  captain,"  said  I,  filling  a  bumper  of  claret,  "  here's 
to  a  long  and  bloody  war." 

"  D n  the  dog  that  won't  say  amen  to  that,"  said  the 

master  ;  "  but  where  do  you  mean  to  carry  me  to  ?  I  guess  to 
Ilalifax.  Slia'n't  I  have  my  clothes,  and  my  own  private 
venter  ?" 

"  All  your  private  property,"  said  I,  "  will  be  held  sacred 
but  your  vessel  and  cargo  are  ours." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  195 

"  Well,  well,"  said  the  man,  "  I  know  that,  but  if  you  behave 
well  to  me,  you  sha'n't  find  I'm  ungrateful.  Let  me  have  my 
things,  and  I'll  give  you  a  bit  o'  news,  as  will  be  of  sarvice  to 
you." 

He  then  told  me,  on  my  promising  him  his  private  venture, 
that  we  had  not  a  moment  to  lose,  for  that  a  vessel,  just  visible 
on  the  horizon,  was  from  Smyrna,  richly  laden  ;  she  was  com- 
manded by  a  townsman  of  his,  and  bound  to  the  same  place. 
I  turned  from  him  with  contempt,  and  at  the  same  moment  made 
the  signal  to  speak  the  frigate.  On  going  on  board,  I  told  the 
captain  what  I  had  heard  from  the  master  of  the  prize,  and  the 
promise  I  had  given.  He  approved  of  it  ;  the  proper  number 
of  men  Were  instantly  sent  back  to  the  brig,  the  prisoner  taken 
out,  and  the  frigate  made  sail  in  chase  of  the  indicated  vessel, 
which  she  captured  that  night  at  nine  o'clock. 

I  would  not  willingly  believe  that  such  perfidy  is  common 
among  the  Americans.  On  parting  with  the  master  of  my 
brig,  a  sharp  dialogue  took  place  between  us. 

"  I  guess  I'll  fit  out  a  privateer,  and  take  some  of  your  mer- 
chanters." 

"  Take  care  you  are  not  taken  yourself,"  said  I,  "  and  pass 
your  time  on  board  one  of  our  prison-ships  ;  but  remember, 
whatever  may  hapi)en,  it's  all  your  own  fault.  You  have  picked 
a  German  quarrel  with  us,  to  please  Bouey  ;  and  he  will  only 
spit  in  your  face  when  you  have  done  your  best  for  him.  Your 
wise  president  has  declared  war  against  the  mother  country." 

"  D u  the  mother  country,"  muttered  the  Yankee  ;  "  step- 
mother, I  guess  you  mean  ;  tarnation  seize  her  !  !  1" 

We  continued  following  the  ship,  and  by  night-time  the 
frigate  had  secured  eight  prizes  ;  one  of  them  being  a  brig  in 
ballast,  the  prisoners  were  put  on  board  of  her,  my  Yankee 
friend  among  the  number,  and  turned  adrift,  to  find  their  way 
home.  We  took  care  to  give  to  all  of  them  their  private  ven- 
tures and  their  clothes.  I  was  in  hopes  of  being  allowed  to  go 
to  Halifax  with  my  prize  ;  but  the  captain,  knowing  how  I  was 
likely  to  pass  my  time,  kept  me  with  him.     We  cruised  two 


196  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

months,  taking  many  privateers,  some  large  and  some  small  ; 
some  we  burned,  and  some  we  scuttled. 

One  day  we  had  one  of  these  crafts  alongside,  and  having 
taken  every  thing  out  of  her  that  was  worth  moving,  we  very 
imprudently  set  her  on  fire  before  she  was  clear  of  the  ship's 
side  ;  and  as  we  were  on  a  wind,  it  was  some  minutes  before 
we  could  get  them  clear.  In  the  mean  time  the  fire  began  to 
blaze  up  in  a  very  alarming  manner  under  the  mizzen  chains, 
where,  by  the  attraction  of  the  two  floating  bodies,  she  seemed 
resolved  to  continue  ;  but  on  our  putting  the  helm  up,  and  giv- 
ing the  vessel  a  sheer  the  contrary  way,' as  soon  as  we  were 
before  the  wind,  she  parted  from  us,  to  our  great  joy,  and  was 
soon  in  a  volume  of  flame.  Our  reason  for  setting  her  on  fire 
alongside  was  to  save  time,  as  we  wanted  to  go  in  chase  of 
another  vessel,  seen  from  the  mast-head,  and  lowering  a  boat 
down  to  destroy  this  vessel  would  have  detained  us. 

Before  the  end  of  the  cruise,  we  chased  a  schooner,  which 
ran  on  shore  and  bilged  ;  we  boarded  her,  brought  away  her 
crew  and  part  of  her  cargo,  which  was  very  valuable.  She  was 
from  Bordeaux,  bound  to  Philadelphia.  I  was  sent  to  exam- 
ine her,  and  endeavour  to  bring  away  more  of  her  cargo.  The 
tide  rising  in  her,  we  were  compelled  to  rip  up  her  decks,  and 
discovered  that  she  was  laden  with  bales  of  silk,  broadcloths, 
watches,  clocks,  laces,  silk  stockings,  wine,  brandy,  bars  of 
steel,  olive-oil,  etc.,  etc.  I  sent  word  of  this  to  the  captain  ; 
and  the  carpenter  and  plenty  of  assistants  arriving,  we  rescued 
a  great  quantity  of  the  goods  from  the  deep  or  the  Yankee 
boats,  who  would  soon  have  been  on  board  after  we  left  her. 
We  could  perceive  in  the  hold  some  cases,  but  they  were  at 
least  four  feet  under  water.  It  was  confoundedly  cold  ;  but  I 
thought  there  was  something  worth  diving  for,  so  down  I  went, 
and  contrived  to  keep  myself  long  enough  under  water  to  hook 
one  end  of  the  case,  by  which  means  we  broke  it  out  and  got  it 
up.  It  was  excellent  claret,  and  we  were  not  withheld  from 
drinking  it  by  any  scruples  of  conscience  ;  for  if  I  had  not  dived 
for  it,  it  would  never  have  come  to  the  mouth  of  an  English- 


THE    NAVAL    OFKICKR.  197 

man.  We  discussed  a  three-dozen  case  among  just  so  many  of 
us,  in  a  reasonably  sbort  time  ;  and  as  it  was  October,  we  felt 
no  ill  effects  from  a  frequent  repetition  of  the  dose. 

I  never  felt  colder,  and  diving  requires  much  stimulant. 
From  practice  at  this  work,  I  could  pick  up  pins  and  needles  in 
a  clear,  sandy  bottom  ;  and,  considering  the  density  of  the 
medium,  could  live  like  a  beaver  under  water  ;  but  I  required 
ample  fees  for  my  trouble,  ^'\'hen  wc  returned  on  board,  we 
were  very  wet  and  cold,  and  the  wine  took  no  effect  on  us  ;  but 
as  soon  as  we  thawed,  like  the  horn  of  the  great  Munchausen, 
the  secret  escaped,  for  w-e  were  all  tipsy.  The  captain  inquired 
the  cause  of  this  the  next  day,  and  I  very  candidly  told  him  the 
whole  history.  He  was  wise  enough  to  laugh  at  it  ;  some  cap- 
tains would  have  flogged  every  one  of  the  men,  and  disgraced 
the  ofiicers. 

On  our  return  into  port,  I  requested  permission  to  go  to 
England  in  order  to  pass  my  examination  as  lieutenant,  having 
nearly  completed  my  servitude  as  a  midshipman.  I  was  asked 
to  remain  out,  and  take  my  chance  of  promotion  in  the  flag- 
ship ;  but  more  reasons  than  I  chose  to  give  induced  me  to 
prefer  an  examination  at  a  sea-port  in  England,  and  I  obtained 
my  discharge  and  came  home.  The  reader  will,  no  doubt,  give 
me  credit  for  having  written  some  dozen  letters  to  Eugenia  ; 
youth,  beauty,  and  transient  possession,  had  still  preserved  my 
passion  unabated.  Emily  1  had  heard  of,  and  still  loved  with 
a  purer  flame.  She  was  my  sun  ;  Eugenia  my  moon  ;  and  the 
fair  favourites  of  the  western  hemisphere  so  many  twinkling 
stars  of  the  first,  second,  and  third  magnitude.  I  loved  them 
all  more  or  less  ;  but  all  their  charms  vanished,  when  the  beau- 
teous Emily  shone  in  my  breast  with  refulgent  Ught. 

I  had  received  letters  from-  my  father,  who  wished  me  to 
come  home,  that  he  might  present  me  to  some  of  the  great  men 
of  the  nation,  and  secure  my  jjromotion  to  the  highest  ranks  of 
the  service.  This  advice  was  good,  and,  as  it  suited  my  views, 
I  followed  it.  I  parted  with  my  captain  on  the  best  terms, 
took  leave  of  all  my  messmates  and  the  officers  in  the  same 


198  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

friendly  manner,  and  last,  not  least,  went  round  to  the  ladies, 
kissing,  hugging,  crying,  and  swearing  love  and  eternal  attach- 
ment. Nothing,  I  declared,  should  keep  me  from  Halifax,  as 
soon  as  I  had  passed  ;  nothing  prevent  my  marrying  one,  as 
soon  as  I  was  a  lieutenant  ;  the  second  was  to  have  the  connu- 
bial knot  tied  when  I  was  a  commander  ;  and  a  third,  as  soon 
as  I  was  made  a  captain.  Oh,  how  like  was  I  to  Don  Galaor  1 
Oh,  how  unlike  the  constant  Amadis  de  Gaul  I  But,  reader, 
you  must  take  me  as  I  was,  not  as  1  ought  to  have  been. 

After  a  passage  of  six  weeks,  I  arrived  at  Plymouth,  and  had 
exactly  completed  my  six  years'  servitude. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

Examine  him  closely,  Goodman,  Dry  ;  spare  him  not.    Ask  him  impossible  questions. 
Let  us  thwart  him,  let  us  thwart  him. 

Beaumont  and  Fletcher. 

Soon  after  my  arrival  at  Plymouth,  notice  was  given  by  a  gen- 
eral order,  issued  from  the  flag-ship,  that  a  passing-day  for  the 
examination  of  midshipmen,  as  touching  their  qualifications  for 
the  rank  of  lieutenant,  would  be  held  on  board  the  Salvador  del 
Miindo,  in  Hamoaze.  I  lost  no  time  in  acquainting  my  fathe;* 
with  this,  and  telling  him  that  I  felt  quite  prepared,  and  meant 
to  offer  myself.  Accordingly,  on  the  day  appointed,  your  hum- 
ble servant,  with  some  fourteen  or  fifteen  other  youthful 
aspirants,  assembled  on  board  the  flag-ship.  Each  was  dressed 
out  in  our  No.  1  suits,  in  most  exact  and  unquizzable  uniform, 
with  a  large  bundle  of  log-books  under  our  arms.  We  were  all 
huddled  together  in  a  small  screened  canvas  cabin,  like  so  many 
sheep,  ready  for  slaughter. 

About  eleven  o'clock,  the  captains  who  were  to  be  our  Minos 
and  our  llhadamantlius,  made  their  api)earauce,  and  we  all 
agreed  that  we  did  not  much  like  the  "cut  of  their  jibs."     At 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  199 

twelve  o'clock  the  first  mau  was  called.  The  "  desperate 
youth,"  tried  to  pluck  up  a  little  courage;  he  cleared  his  throat, 
pulled  up  his  shirt  collar,  touched  his  neck-handkerchief,  and 
seizing  his  cocked  hat  and  journals,  boldly  followed  the  messen- 
ger into  the  captain's  cabin,  where  three  grave-looking  gentle- 
men, in  undress  uniform,  awaited  him.  They  were  seated  at  a 
round  table  ;  a  clerk  was  at  the  elbow  of  the  president ;  Moore's 
navigation,  that  wise  redoubtable,  lay  before  them  ;  together 
with  a  nautical  almanac,  a  slate  and  pencil,  ink  and  paper.  The 
trembling  middy  advanced  to  the  table,  and  having  most  respect- 
fully deposited  his  journals  and  certificates  of  sobriety  and  good 
conduct,  w^as  desired  to  sit  down.  The  first  questions  were 
merely  theoretical ;  and  although  in  the  gun-room,  or  in  any 
other  company,  he  would  have  acquitted  himself  with  ease,  he 
was  so  abashed  and  confounded,  that  he  lost  his  head  entirely, 
trembled  at  the  first  question,  stared  at  the  second,  and  having 
no  answer  to  make  to  the  third,  was  dismissed,  with  directions, 
"  to  go  to  sea  six  months  longer." 

He  returned  to  us  with  a  most  woe-begone  countenance.  I 
never  saw  a  poor  creature  in  greater  mental  torture.  I  felt  for 
him  the  more,  as  I  knew  not  how  soon  .his  case  might  be  my 
own.  Another  was  called,  and  soon  returned  with  no  better 
success  ;  and  the  description  he  gave  of  the  bullying  conduct  of 
the  youngest  passing  captain  was  such  as  to  damp  the  spirits, 
and  enough  to  stultify  minds  so  inexperienced  as  ours,  and 
where  so  much  depended  on  our  success.  The  hint  was,  how- 
ever, of  great  use  to  me.  Theory,  I  found,  was  the  rock  on 
which  they  had  split  ;  and  in  this  part  of  my  profession,  I  knew 
my  powers,  and  was  resolved  not  to  be  bowled  out  by  the  young 
captain.  But  while  I  thus  resolved,  a  third  candidate  was  re- 
turned to  us  re  infecta  ;  and  this  was  a  youug  man  on  whose 
talents  I  could  have  relied;  I  began  to  doubt  myself.  AVhen 
the  fourth  came  out  with  a  sniiUng  face,  and  told  us  he  had 
passed,  I  took  a  little  breath  ;  but  even  this  comfort  was. 
snatched  from  me  in  a  moment,  by  his  saying  that  one  of  the 
passing  captains  was  a  friend  of  his  father.     Here  then  was 


200  •  FRANK    MILPMAY  ;    OR, 

solved  an  enigma  ;  for  this  fellow,  during  the  short  time  I  was 
in  his  company,  gave  proof  of  being  no  better  than  a  simpleton. 

On  my  own  name  being  called,  I  felt  a  flutter  about  the  heart 
which  I  did'not  feel  in  action,  or  in  the  hui'ricane,  or  when  in  a 
case  more  desperate  than  either,  I  jumped  overboard  at  Spit- 
head,  to  swim  to  my  dear  Eugenia.  "  Powers  of  Impudence,  as 
well  as  Algebra,"  said  I,  "  lend  me  your  aid,  or  I  am  undone." 
In  a  moment  the  cabin  door  flew  open,  the  sentinel  closed  it 
after  me,  and  I  found  myself  in  the  presence  of  this  moat  awful 
triumvirate.  I  felt  very  like  Daniel  in  the  lions'  den.  I  was 
desired  to  take  a  chair,  and  a  short  discussion  ensued  between  " 
the  judges,  which  I  neither  heard  nor  wished  to  hear  :  but 
while  it  lasted,  I  had  time  to  survey  my  antagonists  from  head 
to  foot.  I  encouraged. myself  to  think  that  I  was  equal  to  one 
of  them  ;  and  if  I  could  only  neutralize  him,  I  thought  I  should 
very  easily  floor  the  other  two. 

One  of  these  oflScers  had  a  face  like  a  painted  pumpkin  ;  and 
his  hand,  as  it  lay  on  the  table,  looked  more  like  the  fin  of  a 
turtle  ;  the  nails  were  bitten  so  close  off",  that  the  very  remains 
of  them  seemed  to  have  retreated  into  the  flesh,  for  fear  of 
farther  depredation,  which  the  other  hand  was  at  the  moment 
sufl'ering.  Thinks  I  to  myself,  "  If  ever  I  saw  'lodgings  to  let, 
unfurnished,'  it  is  in  that  cocoa-nut,  or  pumpkin,  or  gourd  of 
yours." 

The  next  captain  to  him,  was  a  little,  thin,  dark,  dried-up, 
shrivelled  fellow,  with  keen  eyes,  and  a  sharp  nose.  The  mid- 
shipmou  called  him  "  Old  Chili  Vinegar,"  or  "  Old  Hot  and 
Sour."  He  was  what  we  term  a  martinet.  He  would  keep  a 
man  two  months  on  his  black  list,  giving  him  a  breech  of  a  gun 
to  polish  and  keep  bright,  never  allowing  him  time  to  mtud  his 
clothes  or  keep  himself  clean,  while  he  was  cleaning  that  which, 
for  all  the  purposes  of  war,  had  better  have  been  l^lack.  He 
seldom  flogged  a  man  ;  but  he  tormented  him  into  sullen  dis- 
content, by  what  he  called  "  keeping  the  devil  out  of  his  mind." 
This  little  night-mare,  who  looked  like  a  dried  eel-skin,  I  soon 
found  was  the  leader  of  the  band. 


THE    NAVAL    OKKICKR.  201 

The  third  caiTtain  was  a  tall,  well-looking,  pompous  man,  (he 
was  the  junior  officer  of  the  three,)  with  a  commanding  and 
most  unbending  countenance  :  "  He  would  not  ope  his  mouth 
by  way  of  smile,  though  Nestor  swore  the  jest  was  laughable," 

I  had  just  time  to  finish  my  survey,  and  form  a  rough  esti- 
mate of  the  qualities  of  my  examiners,  when  I  was  put  upon  my 
trial  Ijy  the  president,  who  thus  addressed  me  : 

"  You  are  perfect  in  the  theory  of  navigation,  I  presume,  sir, 
or  you  would  not  come  here." 

I  replied,  that  I  hoped  I  should  be  found  so,  if  they  would 
please  to  try  me. 

"Ready  enough  with  his  answer,"  said  the  tall  captain;  "I 
dare  say  this  fellow  is  jaw-master-general  in  the  cockpit.  Who 
did  you  serve  your  time  with,  sir  ?" 

I  stated  the  different  captains  I  had  served  with,  particularly 
Lord  Edward. 

"  Oh,  ay,  that's  enough  ;  you  must  be  a  smart  fellow  if  yoa 
have  served  with  Lord  Edward." 

I  understood  the  envious  and  sarcastic  manner  in  which  this 
was  uttered,  and  prepared  accordingly  for  an  arduous  cam- 
paign, 'quite  sure  that  this  man,  who  was  no  seaman,  would 
have  been  too  happy  in  turning  back  one  of  Lord  Edward's 
midshipmen.  Several  problems  were  given  to  me,  which  I 
readily  solved,  and  returned  to  them.  They  examined  my  logs 
and  certificates,  with  much  seeming  scrutiny,  and  then  ventured 
a  question  in  the  higher  branches  of  mathematics.  This  I  also 
solved  ;  but  I  found  talent  was  not  exactly  what  they  wanted. 
The  little  skinny  captain  seemed  rather  disappointed  that  he 
could  not  find  fault  with  me.  A  difficult  problem  in  spherical 
trigonometry  lay  before  them  carefully  drawn  out,  and  the 
result  distinctly  marked  at  the  bottom  ;  but  this  I  was  not  of 
course,  permitted  to  see.  I  soon  answered  the  question  ;  they 
compared  my  work  with  that  which  had  been  prepared  for 
them,  and  as  they  did  not  exactly  agree,  I  was  told  that  I  was 
wrong.  I  was  not  disconcerted,  and  very  deliberately  looking 
over  my  work,  I  told  them  I  could  not  discover  any  error,  and 

9* 


202  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

was  able  to  prove  it  by  inspection,  by  Canon,  by  Gunter,  or  by 
figure. 

"  You  think  yourself  a  very  clever  fellow,  I  dare  say,"  said 
the  little  fat  captain. 

"  A  second  Euclid  !"  said  the  tall  captain.  "  Pray,  sir,  do 
you  know  the  meaning  of  'Pons  Asinorum  V  " 

"  Bridge  of  Asses,  sir,"  said  I,  staring  him  full  in  the  face, 
with  a  smile  under  the  skin. 

Now  it  was  very  clear  to  me  that  the  little  fat  captain  had 
never  heard  of  the  Asses'  Bridge  before,  and  therefore  supposed 
I  was  quizzing  the  tall  captain,  Avho,  from  having  been  what  we 
used  to  term  a  "harbour-duty  man"  all  his  life,  had  heard  of 
the  Pons  Asinorum,  but  did  not  know  which  of  the  problems  of 
Euclid  it  was,  nor  how  it  was  applicable  to  navigation.  The 
fat  captain,  therefore,  burst  into  a  horse-laugh,  saying,  "I  think 
he  hits  you  hard  ;  you  had  better  let  him  alone  ;  he  will  puzzle 
you  presently." 

Nettled  at  this  observation  of  his  brother  officer,  the  tall 
captain  was  put  upon  his  mettle,  and  insisted  that  the  question 
last  proposed  was  not  satisfactorily  answered,  and  swore  that  he 
would  never  sign  my  certificate  until  I  did  it. 

I  persisted  ;  the  two  works  were  compared  ;  I  was  threat- 
ened to  be  turned  back  ;  when  lo,  to  the  dismay  of  the  party, 
the  error  was  found  in  their  own  work.  The  fat  captain,  who 
was  a  well-meaning  man,  laughed  heartily  ;  the  other  two 
looked  very  silly  and  very  angry. 

"  Enough  of  this,  sir,"  said  the  martinet  ;  "  now  stand  up, 
and  let  us  see  what  you  can  do  with  a  ship."  A  ship  was  sup- 
posed to  be  on  the  stocks  ;  she  was  launched  ;  I  was  appointed 
to  her,  and,  as  first-lieutenant,  ordered  to  prepare  her  for  sea. 
I  took  her  into  dock,  and  saw  her  coppered  ;  took  her  along 
the  sheer  hulk,  masted  her;  laid  her  to  the  ballast  wharf,  took  in 
and  stowed  her  iron  ballast  and.  her  tanks  ;  moved  off  to  a  hulk 
or  receiving  ship,  rigged  her  completely,  bent  her  sails,  took  in 
guns,  stores,  and  provisions  ;  reported  her  ready  for  sea,  and 
made  the  signal  for  a  pilot  ;  took  her  out  of  harbour,  and  was 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  203 

desired  to  conduct  her  into  other  harbours,  pointing  out  the 
shoals  and  dangers  of  Portsmouth,  Plymouth,  Falmouth,  the 
Downs,  Yarmouth  Roads,  and  even  to  Shetland. 

But  the  little  martinet  and  the  tall  captain  had  not  forgiven 
me  for  being  right  in  the  problem,  and  my  examination  con- 
tinued. They  put  my  ship  into  every  possible  situation  which 
the  numerous  casualties  of  a  sea  life  present  in  such  endless 
variety.  I  set  and  took  in  every  sail,  from  a  sky-sail  to  try-sail. 
I  had  ray  masts  shot  away,  and  I  rigged  jury-masts  :  I  made 
sail  on  them,  and  was  getting  fairly  into  port,  when  the  little 
martinet  very  cruelly  threw  my  ship  on  her  beam-ends  on  a 
dead  lee  shore,  a  dark  night,  and  blowing  a  hiu'ricane,  and  told 
me  to  get  her  out  of  that  scrape  if  I  could.  I  repUed  that  if 
there  was  anchorage  I  should  anchor,  and  take  my  chance  ;  but 
if  there  was  no  anchorage,  neither  he  nor  any  one  else  could 
save  the  ship,  without  a  change  of  wind  or  the  special  interfer- 
ence of  Providence.  Tbis  did  not  satisfy  old  Chili  Vinegar.  I 
saw  that  I  was  persecuted,  and  that  the  end  would  be  fatal  to 
my  hopes ;  I  therefore  became  indifferent ;  was  fatigued  with 
the  endless  questions  put  to  mc  ;  and,  very  fortunately  for  me, 
made  a  mistake,  at  least  in  the  opinion  of  the  tall  captain.  The 
question  at  that  time  was  one  which  was  much  controverted  in 
the  service  ;  namely,  whether,  on  being  taken  flat  aback,  you 
should  put  your  helm  a  turn  or  two  alee,  or  keep  it  amidship  ? 
I  preferred  the  latter  mode  ;  but  the  tall  captain  insisted  on  the 
former,  and  gave  his  reasons.  Finding  myself  on  debatable 
ground,  I  gave  way,  and  thanked  him  for,  his  advice,  which  I 
said  I  should  certainly  follow  whenever  the  case  occurred  to 
me  ;  not  that  I  felt  convinced  then,  and  have  since  found  that 
he  was  wrong  ;  still  my  apparent  tractability  pleased  his  self- 
love,  and  he  became  my  advocate.  "  He  grinned  horribly  a 
ghastly  smile,"  and,  turning  to  the  other  captains,  asked  if  they 
were  satisfied. 

This  question,  like  the  blow  of  the  auctioneer's  hammer,  ends 
all  discussion ;  for  captains,  on  these  occasions,  never  gainsay 
each  other  ;  I  was  told  that  my  passing  certificate  would  be 


204  FRANK    MILD.MAY  ;    OR, 

signed.  I  made  my  best  bow  and  my  exit,  reflecting,  as  I 
returned  to  the  "  sheep-pen,"  that  I  had  nearly  lost  my  promo- 
tion by  wounding  their  vanity,  and  had  regained  my  ground  by 
flattering  it.  Thus  the  world  goes  on  ;  and  from  my  earliest 
days,  my  mind  was  strengthened  and  confirmed  in  every  vice  by 
the  pernicious  example  of  my  superiors. 

I  might  have  passed  much  more  easily  abroad.  I  remember, 
one  fine  day  at  sea,  in  the  West  Indies,  a  boat  was  lowered 
down,  and  sent  with  a  young  midshipman  (whose  time  was  not 
fairly  served,  and  whose  age  and  appearance  indicated  anything 
but  nautical  knowledge)  to  a  ship  then  in  company  ;  in  a  quar- 
ter of  an  hour  he  returned  with  his  passing  certificate.  We 
were  all  astonished,  and  inquired  what  questions  were  put  to 
him:  he  said,  "None  at  all,  except  as  to  the  health  of  my 
father  and  mother  ;  and  whether  I  would  have  port  or  white 
wine  and  water.  On  coming  away,"  the  brat  added,  "  one  of 
the  captains  desired  I  would,  when  I  wrote  home,  give  his  best 
respects  to  Lord  and  Lady  G.  He  had  ordered  a  turkey  to  be 
picked,  and  put  in  the  boat  for  me,  and  wished  me  success." 

This  boy  was  soon  afterwards  made  a  post-captain  ;  but 
fortunately  for  the  service,  died  on  his  passage  to  England. 

There  was  certainly  some  difference  between  this  examina- 
tion and  mine  ;  but  when  it  was  over,  I  rejoiced  at  the  severity 
of  my  ordeal.  My  pride,  my  darling  pride,  was  tickled  at  the 
triumph  of  my  talents  ;  and  as  I  wiped  away  the  perspiration 
from  my  forehead,  I  related  my  diflhculties,  my  trials,  and  my 
success,  with  a  degree  of  self-complacency,  that  in  any  other 
person  I  should  have  called  egregious  vanity.  One  good  effect 
resulted  from  my  long  examination,  which  continued  an  hour 
and  a  half — this  was,  that  the  captains  passed  all  the  other 
midshipmen  with  very  few  questions.  They  were  tired  of  their 
employment  ;  and  thus  it  was  only  the  poor  unlucky  devils  that 
took  off  the  fiery  edge  of  their  morning  zeal,  who  suffered  ;  and 
among  "  the  plucked,"  it  was  known  there  were  much  cleverer 
fellows  than  many  of  those  who  had  come  off  with  flying 
colours. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  205 

There  was  one  circumstance  which  amused  me.  When  the 
captains  came  on  deck,  the  little  Chili  Vinegar  called  me  to 

him,  and  inquired  whether  I  was  any  relation  of  Mr" .     I 

replied  that  he  was  my  uncle. 

"  Bless  my  soul,  sir  1  why  he  is  my  most  intimate  friend. 
Why  did  you  not  tell  me  you  were  his  nephew  ?" 

I  answered  with  an  affected  humility,  very  nearly  allied  to 
impertinence,  that  I  could  not  see  by  his  face  that  he  knew  my 
uncle  ;  nor,  indeed,  had  I  known  it,  should  I  have  thought  it 
dehcate  to  have  mentioned  it  at  such  a  time  ;  as  it  might  not 
only  have  implied  a  want  of  confidence  in  my  own  abilities,  but 
also  a  suspicion  that  he  might,  by  such  a  communication,  have 
been-  induced  to  deviate  from  the  rigid  path  of  his  duty,  and 
might  therefore  have  received  it  as  a  personal  aflront. 

"  All  that  is  very  fine,  and  very  true,"  said  the  veteran  ;  "  but 
when  you  have  an  old»r  head  upon  your  shoulders,  and  have 
seen  a  little  more  of  our  service,  you  will  learn  to  trust  at  least 
as  much  to  friends  as  to  merit ;  and  rely  on  it,  that  if  you  could 
make  yourself  out  cousin-german  to  the  old  tom-cat  at  the 
admiralty,  you  would  fare  all  the  better  for  it.  However,  it's 
all  over  now,  and  there's  an  end  of  it  ;  but  make  my  compli- 
ments to  your  uncle,  and  tell  him  that  you  passed  your  examina- 
tion in  a  manner  highly  creditable  to  you." 

So  saying,  he  touched  his  hat  to  the  sergeant's  guard,  and 
slipped  down  the  side  into  his  gig.  As  he  descended,  I  said  to 
myself,  "  D — n  your  monkey  face,  you  coffee-coloured  little  ras- 
cal— no  thanks  to  you,  if  I  have  passed.  I  suppose  your  father 
was  breeches-mender  to  the  first  lord's  butler,  or  else  you  shared 
your  mother's  milk  with  a  lord  in  waiting,  and  that's  the  way 
you  got  the  command  of  the ." 

Elated  with  the  result  of  the  day,  I  threw  myself  into  the 
mail  that  evening,  and  reached  my  father's  house  in  a  short 
time  after.  My  reception  was  kind  and  afl'ectiouate  ;  but  death 
had  made  sad  havoc  in  my  family  during  my  late  absence.  My 
elder  brother  and  two  sisters  had  been  successively  called  to 
join  my  poor  mother  in  heaven,  and  all  that  remained  now  to 


206  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

comfort  my  father  was  a  younger  sister  and  myself.  I  must 
confess  that  my  father  received  me  with  great  emotion  ;  his  own 
heavy  afflictions  from  the  loss  of  his  children,  and  the  dangers  I 
had  undergone,  as  well  as  the  authentic  assurances  he  had 
received  of  my  good  conduct,  were  more  than  sufficient  to  biu'y 
all  my  errors  in  oblivion  ;  and  he"  appeared,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
he  really  was,  fonder  and  prouder  of  me  than  ever. 

As  to  what  my  own  feelings  were  on  this  occasion,  I  shall 
not  attempt  to  disguise  them.  Sorry  I  certainly  was  for  the 
death  of  my  nearest  relatives  ;  but  when  the  intelligence  reached 
me  I  was  in  the  midst  of  the  most  active  service.  Death  in  all 
its  forms  had  become  familiar  to  me  ;  and  so  little  impression 
did  the  event  make  on  my  mind,  that  I  did  not  interrupt  the 
thread  of  my  history  to  speak  of  it  when  it  occurred.  I  take 
shame  to  myself  for  not  feeling  more  ;  but  I  am  quite  sure,  from 
this  one  instance  in  my  life,  that  the  feelings  are  blunted  in  pro- 
portion to  the  increase  of  misery  around  us  ;  that  the  jDarent 
who,  in  a  moment  of  peace  and  domestic  tranquillity,  would  be 
agonized  at  the  loss  of  one  child,  would  view  the  death  of  ten 
with  comparative  indifference,  when  surrounded  by  war,  pesti- 
lence, or  famine. 

My  feelings,  never  very  acute  in  this  respect,  were  completely 
blunted  by  my  course  of  life.  Those  fond  recollections  which, 
in  a  calm  scene,  would  have  wrung  from  me  some  tears  to  their 
memory,  were  now  drowned  or  absorbed  in  the  waste,  the 
profligacy,  and  the  dissipation  of  war  ;  and  shall  I  add,  that  I 
easily  reconciled  myself  to  a  loss  which  was  likely  so  much  to 
increase  my  worldly  gain.  For  my  eldest  brother,  I  own  that 
even  from  childhood,  I  had  felt  a  jealousy  and  dislike,  fostered, 
as  I  think,  in  some  measure  unwisely,  and  in  part  unavoidably, 
])y  tlic  conduct  of  my  parents.  In  all  matters  of  choice  or  dis- 
tinction, Tom  was  to  have  the  preference,  because  he  was  the 
oldest :  this  I  thought  hard  enough  ;  but  when  Tom  had  new 
clothes  at  Midsummer  and  Christmas,  and  his  old  ones  were 
converted  to  my  use,  1  honestly  own  1  wished  the  doyil  had 
Tom.     As  a  point  of  economy,  perhaps,  this  could   not  be 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  207 

avoided  ;  but  it  engendered  a  hatred  towards  my  })rother,  wliich 
often  made  mc,  in  ray  own  little  malignant  mind,  find  excuses 
for  the  conduct  of  Cain. 

Tom  was,  to  be  sure,  what  is  called  a  good  boy  ;  he  never 
soiled  his  clothes,  as  I  did.  I  was  always  considered  as  a  ranti- 
pole,  for  whom  any  thing  was  good  enough.  But  when  I  saw 
my  brother  tricked  out  in  new  clothes,  and  his  old  duds  cover- 
ing me,  like  a  scarecrow,  I  appeal  to  any  honourable  mind 
whether  it  was  in  human  nature  to  feel  otherwise  than  I  did, 
without  possessing  an  angelic  disposition,  to  which  I  never  pre- 
tended ;  and  I  fairly  own  that  I  did  not  shed  one-fiftieth  part 
so  many  tears  over  Tom's  grave,  as  I  did  over  his  dirty  panta- 
loons, when  forced  to  put  them  on. 

As  for  my  sisters,  I  knew  little  about  them,  and  cared  less  : 
we  met  during  the  holydays,  and  separated,  without  regret,  after 
a  month's  quarrelling.  When  I  went  to  sea,  I  ceased  to  think 
about  them,  concluding  there  was  no  love  lost ;  but  when  I 
found  that  death  had  for  ever  robbed  me  of  two  of  them,  I  felt 
the  irretrievable  loss.  I  reproached  myself  with  my  coldness 
jand  neglect ;  and  the  affection  I  had  denied  to  them,  I  heaped 
threefold  on  my  remaining  sister  :  even  before  I  had  ever  seen 
her  on  my  return,  the  tide  of  fraternal  love  flowed  towards  her 
with  an  uncontrollable  violence.  All  that  I  ought  to  have  felt 
towards  the  others  was  concentrated  in  her,  and  displayed 
itself  with  a  force  which  surprised  even  myself. 

Perhaps  the  reader  may  be  astonished  that  my  first  inquiry 
in  London,  when  I  had  seen  my  father  and  my  family,  should 
not  have  been  after  poor  Eugenia,  whom  I  had  left,  and  who 
also  had  quitted  me,  under  such  very  peculiar  and  interesting 
circumstances.  I  cannot,  however,  claim  much  credit  for  hav- 
ing performed  this  duty.  I  did  go,  without  loss  of  time,  to  her 
agent  ;  and  all  that  my  most  urgent  entreaty  could  obtain 
from  him  was,  that  she  was  well  ;  that  I  still  had  credit  at  his 
house  for  any  sum  I  chose  to  draw  for  in  moderation  ;  but 
that  her  place  of  abode  must,  till  farther  orders  from  her, 
remain  a  secret. 


208  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

As  my  father  did  not  want  interest,  and  my  claims  were 
backed  by  good  certificates,  I  received  my  commission  as  a 
lieutenant  in  his  majesty's  navy  about  a  fortnight  after  my 
arrival  in  Loudon  ;  but  not  being  appointed  to  any  ship,  I 
resolved  to  enjoy  the  "  otium  cum  dig.^''  and  endeavour  tq 
make  myself  some  amends  for  the  hard  campaign  I  had  so 
lately  completed  in  North  America.  I  felt  the  transport  of 
being  a  something  j  at  least,  I  could  live  independent  of  my 
father,  let  the  worst  come  to  the  worst ;  and  I  shall  ever  think 
this  step  gave  me  more  real  pleasure  than  either  of  the  two 
subsequent  ones  which  I  have  lived  to  attain.  No  sooner, 
therefore,  had  I  taken  up  my  commission,  than  my  thoughts 
turned  on  my  Emily;  and  two  days  after  the  attainment  of  my 
rank,  1  mentioned  to  my  father  my  intention  of  paying  a  visit 
to Hall. 

He  was  at  the  time  in  high  good  humour;  we  were  sitting- 
over  our  bottle  of  claret,  after  an  excellent  tete-a-tete  dinner, 
during  which  I  contributed  very  much  to  his  amusement  by  the 
recital  of  some  of  my  late  adventures.  He  shuddered  at  my 
danger  in  the  hurricane,  and  his  good-humoured  sides  hacj 
well  nigh  cracked  with  laughter  when  I  recounted  my  pranks  at 
Quebec  and  Prince  Edward's  Island.  When  I  spoke  of  Miss 
Somerville,  my  father 'said  he  had  no  doubt  she  would  be  happy 
to  see  me — that  she  was  now  grown  a  very  beautiful  girl,  and 
was  the  toast  of  the  county. 

I  received  this  information  with  an  apparent  cool  indifference, 
which  I  was  far  from  feeling  iiiwardly,  for  my  heart  beat  .at  the 
intelligence.  "  Perhaps,"  said  I,  picking  my  teeth,  and  looking 
at  my  mouth  in  a  little  ivory  etui — "  perhaps  iriie  may  be  grown 
'a  fine  girl  :  she  bade  fair  to  be  so  when  I  saw  her  ;  but  fine 
girls  are  very  plenty  now-a-days,  since  the  vaccine  has  turned 
out  the  small-pox.  Besides,  the  girls  have  now  another  chance 
of  a  good  shape  ;  they  are  allowed  to  take  the  air,  instead 
of  sitting  all  day,  with  their  feet  in  the  stocks  and  their  dear 
sweet  noses  bent  over  a  French  grammar,  under  the  rod  of 
a  French  governess." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  209 

Why  I  took  so  much  pains  to  conceal  from  the  best  of 
parents  tlie  real  state  of  ray  heart,  I  know  not,  extcpt  that, 
from  habit,  deceit  was  to  me  more  readily  at  liaud  than 
candour  ;  certainly  my  attachment  to  this  fair  and  virtuous 
creature  could  not  cause  me  to  blush,  except  at  my  own  unwor- 
thiness  of  so  much  excellence.  My  father  looked  disappointed, 
I  know  not  why  ;  but  ^  afterwards  learned  that  the  subject  of 
our  union  had,  since  my  brother's  death,  been  discussed  and 
agreed  to  between  him  and  Mr.  Somerville  ;  and  that  our 
marriage  was  only  to  be  deferred  until  I  should  ha^ve  attained 
the  rank  of  captain,  provided  always  that  the  parties  were 
agreed. 

"  I  thought,"  said  my  father,  "  that  you  were  rather  smitten 
in  that  quarter  ?" 

"  Me  smitten,  sir  ?"  said  I,  with  a  look  of  astonishment.  "  I 
have,  it  is  true,  a  very  high  respect  for  Miss  Somerville;  but  as 
for  being  in  love  with  her,  I  trust  no  little  attentions  on  my 
part  have  been  so  construed.  I  have  paid  her  no  more  atten- 
tion tlian  I  may  have  done  to  any  pretty  girl  I  meet  with." 
(This  was,  indeed,  true,  too  true). 

"  Well,  well,"  said  my  father,  "  it  is  a  mistake  on  my  part." 

And  here  the  conversation  on  that  subject  was  dropped. 

It  appeared  that  after  the  little  arrangement  between  Mr. 
Somerville  and  my  father,  and  when  I  had  gone  to  join  my  ship 
in  America,  they  had  had  some  communication  together,  in 
which  Mr.  Somerville  disclosed,  that  having  questioned  his 
daughter,  she  had  ingenuously  confessed  that  I  was  not  indif- 
ferent to  her.  She  acknowledged,  with  crimson  blushes,  that  I 
had  requested  and  obtained  a  lock  of  her  hair.  This  Mr.  Som- 
erville told  my  father  in  confidence.  He  was  not,  therefore,  at 
liberty  to  mention  it  to  me  ;  but  it  sufficiently  accounts  for  his 
astonishment  at  my  seeming  indifference  ;  for  the  two  worthy 
parents  had  naturally  concluded  that  it  was  a  match. 

Confounded  and  bewildered  by  my  asseveration,  my  father 
knew  not  whose  veracity  to  impeach ;  but,  cjmritably  concluding- 
there  was  some  mistake,  or  that  1  was,  as  heretofore,  a  fickle. 


210  FRANK    MILDMAr  ;    OR, 

thoughtless  being,  considered  himself  bound  in  honour  to  com- 
municate the  substance  of  our  conversation  to  Mr.  Somerville  ; 
and  the  latter  no  sooner  received  it,  than  he  placed  the 
letter  in  Emily's  hand — a  very  comfortable  kind  of  avant- 
courier  for  a  lover,  after  an  absence  from  his  mistress  of  full 
three  years. 

I  arrived  at  the  hall,  bursting  with  impatience  to  see  the 
lovely  girl,  whose  hold  on  my  heart  and  affection  was  infinitely 
stronger  than  I  had  ever  supposed.  Darting  from  the  chaise,  I 
flew  into  the  sitting-room,  where  she  usually  passed  her  morn- 
ing. I  was  now  in  my  twenty-second  year  ;  my  figure  was 
decidedly  of  a  handsome  cast ;  my  face,  what  I  knew  most 
women  admired.  My  personal  advantages  were  heightened  by 
the  utmost  attention  to  dress ;  the  society  of  the  fair  Arcadians 
had  very  much  polished  my  manners,  and  I  had  no  more  of  the 
professional  roughness  of  the  sea,  than  what,  like  the  crust  on 
the  port-wine,  gave  an  agreeable  flavour  ;  my  countenance  was 
as  open  and  as  ingenuous  as  my  heart  was  deceitful  and  despe- 
rately wicked. 

Emily  rose  with  much  agitation,  and  in  an  instant  was 
clasped  in  my  arms  :  not  that  the  movement  was  voluntary 
on  her  part ;  it  was  wholly  on  mine.  She  rather  recoiled  ;  but 
for  an  instant  seemed  to  have  forgotten  the  fatal  commuuicatiou 
which  her  father  had  made  to  her  not  two  hours  before.  She 
allowed  me — perhaps  she  could  not  prevent  it — to  press  her  to 
my  heart.  She  soon,  however,  regained  her  presence  of  mind, 
and,  gently  disengaging  herself,  gave  vent  to  her  feelings  in  a 
violent  flood  of  tears. 

Not  at  the  time  recollecting  the  conversation  with  my  father, 
much  less  suspecting  that  Emily  had  been  made  acquainted 
with  it,  I  cannot  but  confess  that  this  reception  surprised  me. 
My  caresses  were  repulsed,  as  coming  from  one  totally  dis- 
qualified to  take  such  freedom.  She  even  addressed  me  as  Mr, 
Mildmay,  instead  of  "  Frank." 

"  What  may  all  this  mean,  my  dearest  Emily,"  said  I,  "after 
so  long  an  absence  ?     Is  this  the  reward  of  my  affection  and 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  211 

coiLstancy  ?  Have  I  so  long  worn  this  dear  emblem  of  your 
affection  next  my  heart,  in  battle  and  in  tempest,  to  be  spnrned 
from  you  like  a  cur  on  my  return  ?" 

I  felt  that  I  had  a  clear  right  to  boast  of  constancy  :  nor 
were  the  flirtations  of  Halifax  and  Quebec  at  all  incompatible 
with  such  a  declaration.  The  fair  sex  will  start  at  this  propo- 
sition ;  but  it  is  nevertheless  true.  Emily  was  to  me  what  the 
Dutchman's  best  anchor  was  to  him — he  kept  it  at  home  for 
fear  of  losing  it.  He  used  other  anchors  in  different  ports,  that 
answered  the  purpose  tolerably  well  ;  but  this  best  bower  he 
always  intended  to  ride  by  in  the  Nieu  deep,  when  he  had 
escaped  all  the  dangers  and  quicksands  of  foreign  shores  :  such 
was  Emily  to  me.  I  thought  of  her  when  in  the  very  jaws  of 
the  shark  ;  I  thought  of  her  when  I  mounted  the  rigging  in  the 
hurricane  ;  I  thought  of  her  whcu  bored  and  tormented  to  mad- 
ness by  the  old  passing  captains  ;  all,  all  I  might  gain  in  renown 
was  for  her.  Why,  then,  traitor-like,  did  I  deny  her  ?  For  no 
other  reason  that  I  can  devise,  than  that  endless  love  of  plot 
and  deceit  which  had  "  grown  with  my  growth." 

Madame  de  Stael  has  pronounced  love  to  be  an  episode  in  a 
man's  hfe  ;  and  so  far  it  is  true.  There  are  as  many  episodes 
in  life  as  there  are  in  novels  and  romances  ;  but  in  neither  case 
do  they  destroy  the  general  plot  of  the  history,  although  they 
may,  for  the  time,  distract  or  divert  our  attention.  Here,  then, 
is  the  distinction  between  passion  and  love.  I  felt  a  passion  for 
Eugenia,  love  for  Emily.  And  why  ?  Because,  although  it 
was  throngli  my  own  persuasion  and  entreaties  that  her  scruples 
had  been  overcome  ;  although  it  was  through  her  affection  for 
me,  which  would  not  allow  her  to  refuse  me  any  demand,  even 
to  the  sacrifice  of  herself,  that  Eugenia  had  fallen,  still,  in  the 
eyes  of  society,  she  had  fallen,  and  I  did  not  offer  up  a  pure 
and  holy  love  to  that  which  was  not  accounted  pure.  In  this  I 
gave  way,  ungratefully,  to  the  heartless  casuistry  of  the  world. 
But  Emily,  enshrined  in  modesty,  with  every  talent,  equal,  if 
not  superior  charms,  defended  by  rank  and  connexion,  was  a 
flower  perpetually  blooming  on  the  stem  of  virtue,  that  it  would 


212  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

liave  amounted  to  sacrilege  to  attempt  to  have  plucked  ;  and 
the  attempt  itself  would  have  savoured  of  iusauity,  from  the 
utter  hopelessness  of  success.  Every  sentiment  connected  with 
her  was  pure  from  mere  selfishness.  Not  for  worlds  would  T 
have  injured  her;  because,  in  destroying  her  peace  of  mind,  my 
own  would  have  fled  for  ever.  When  I  contemplated  our  final 
union,  I  blushed  for  my  own  unworthiness  ;  and  looked  forward 
to  the  day  when,  by  repentance  and  amendment,  I  might  be 
deemed  worthy  to  lead  her  to  the  altar. 

I  had  not  time  to  pursue  these  reflections  any  farther.  Emily 
heard  my  appeal,  and  rising  from  her  seat  in  the  most  dignified 
manner,  addressed  me  in  tlie  coinmanding  language  of  conscious 
virtue  and  injured  innocence. 

"  Sir,"  said  she,  "  I  trust  I  am  too  honest  to  deceive  you,  or 
any  one  ;  nor  have  I  done  that  of  which  I  need  be  ashamed. 
Whatever  reasons  I  may  have  to  repent  of  my  misplaced  con- 
fidence, I  will  make  no  secret  of  that  which  now  compels  me  to 
change  my  opinion  of  you  ;  you  will  find  them  amply  detailed  in 
this  paper,"  at  the  same  time  putting  into  my  hand  a  letter 
from  my  father  to  Mr.  Somerville. 

In  a  moment  the  mystery  was  unravelled,  and  conviction 
flashed  in  my  face  like  the  priming  of  a  musket.  Guilty,  and 
convicted  on  the  clearest  evidence,  I  had  nothing  left  for  it,  but 
to  throw  myself  on  her  qiercy  ;  but  while  I  stood  undecided  and 
unknowing  what  to  do,  Mr.  Somerville  entered,  and  welcomed 
me  with  kind,  but  cool  hospitality.  Seeing  Emily  in  teai's,  and 
my  lather's  letter  in  her  hand,  he  knew  that  an  edaircissement 
had  taken  place,  or  was  in  progress.  In  this  situation,  candour, 
and  an  honest  confession  that  I  felt  a  mauvaise  honte  in  disclos- 
ing my  passion  to  my  father,  would  undoubtedly  have  been  my 
safest  course  ;  but  my  right  trusty  friend,  the  devil,  stepped  In 
to  my  assistance,  and  suggested  deceit,  or  a  continuation  of  that 
chain  by  which  he  had  long  since  Ibound  me,  and  not  one  link 
of  which  he  took  care  should  ever  be  broken  ;  and  fortunately 
for  me,  this  plan  answered,  at  the  time,  better  than  candour. 

"  1  must  acknowledge,  sir,"  said  I,  "  that  appearances  are 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  213 

agaiust  me.  I  can  ouly  trust  to  your  patient  hearing,  while  1 
state  the  real  facts.  Allow  me  first  to  say,  that  my  father's  ob- 
servations are  hardly  warranted  by  the  conversation  which  took 
place  ;  and  if  yon  will  please,  in  the  first  place,  to  consider 
that  that  very  conversation  originated  in  my  expressing-  a  wish 
angl  intention  of  coming  down  to  see  you,  and  to  produce  to 
your  daughter  the  memento  so  carefully  guarded  during  my 
long  absence,  you  must  perceive  that  there  is  an  incongruity  in 
my  conduct,  difficult  to  explain  ;  but  still,  through  all  these 
mazes  and  windings,  I  trust  that  truth  and  constancy  w'ill  be 
found  at  the  bottom.  You  may  probably  laugh  at  the  idea,  but 
I  really  felt  jealous  of  my  father's  praises  so  lavishly  bestowed 
on  Miss  Somerville  ;  and  not  supposing  he  was  aware  of  my  at- 
tachment, I  began  to  fear  he  had  pretensions  of  his  own.  He 
is  a  widower,  healthy,  and  not  old  ;  and  it  appeared  to  me,  that 
he  ouly  wanted  my  admiration,  to  justify  his  choice  of  a  step- 
mother for  myself  and  sister.  Thus,  between  love  for  Miss 
Somerville,  and  respect  for  my  father,  I  scarcely  knew  how  to 
act.  That  I  should  for  one  moment  have  felt  jealous  of  my 
father,  I  now  acknowledge  v/ith  shame  :  yet  labouring  under 
the  erroneous  supposition  of  his  attachment  to  an  object  which 
had  been  the  only  one  of  my  adoration,  I  could  not  make  up  my 
mind  to  a  disclosure,  which  I  feared  would  have  renewed  our 
differences,  and  produced  the  most  insuperable  bar  to  our  future 
reconciliation.  This  thought  burned  in  my  brain,  and  urged  the 
speed  of  the  jaded  post-horses.  If  you  will  examine  the  drivers, 
they  will  tell  you  that  the  whole  way  from  town,  they  have 
been  stimulated  by  the  rapping  of  a  Spanish  dollar  on  the  glass 
of  the  chaise.  I  dreaded  my  father  getting  the  start  of  me  ; 
and  busy  fancy  painted  him,  to  my  heated  imagination,  kneeling 
at  the  feet  of  my  beloved  Emily.  Condemn  me  not,  therefore, 
too  harshly;  only  allow  me  the  same  lenient  judgment  which 
you  exercised  when  I  first  had  the  pleasure  of  making  your 
acquaintance." 

This  last  sentence  delicately  recalled  the  scene  at  the  inn, 
and  the  circumstances  of  my  first  introduction.     The  defence 


214  FRANK    MILDIIAY  ;    OR, 

was  not  bad  ;  it  wanted  but  one  simple  ingredient  to  have  made 
it  excellent — I  mean  truth  ;  but  the  court  being  strongly  biassed 
in  favour  of  the  prisoner,  I  was  acquitted,  and,  at  the  same 
time,  "  admonished  to  be  more  careful  in  future."  The  recon- 
ciliation produced  a  few  more  tears  from  my  beloved  Emily, 
who  soon  after  slipped  out  of  the  room  to  recover  her  flurry. 

When  Mr.  Somerville  and  myself  were  left  together,  he  ex- 
plained to  me  the  harmless  plot  which  had  been  laid  for  the 
union  between  his  daughter  ^ud  myself.  How  true  it  is,  that 
the  falling  out  of  lovers  is  the  renewal  of  love  !  The  fair  white 
hand  extended  to  me  was  kissed  with  more  rapture,  as  I  had 
feared  the  losing  of  it  for  ever.  None  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  a 
secure  port,  but  he  who  has  been  tempest-tossed,  and  in  danger 
of  shipwreck. 

The  dinner  and  the  evening  were  among  the  happiest  I  can 
remember.  We  sat  but  a  short  time  over  our  wine,  as  I  pre- 
ferred following  my  mistress  to  the  little  drawing-room,  where 
tea  and  coffee  were  prepared,  and  where  the  musical  instru- 
ments were  kept.  Emily  sang  and  played  to  me,  and  I  sang 
and  accompanied  her ;  and  I  thought  all  the  clocks  and 
watches  in  the  house  were  at  least  three  hours  fast,  when,  as  it 
struck  twelve,  the  signal  was  made  to  retire. 

I  had  no  sooner  laid  my  head  on  my  pillow,  than  I  began  to 
call  myself  to  a  severe  account  for  my  duplicity;  for,  somehow 
or  other,  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  conscience  is  a  very  difficult 
sort  of  a  gentleman  to  deal  with.  A  tailor's  bill  you  may 
avoid  by  crossing  the  channel ;  but  the  duns  of  conscience  fol- 
low you  to  the  antipodes,  and  will  be  satisfied.  I  ran  over 
the  events  of  the  day;  I  reflected  that  I  had  been  on  the  brink 
of  losing  my  Emily  by  an  act  of  needless  and  unjustifiable  de- 
ceit and  double-dealing.  Sooner  or  later  I  was  convinced  that 
this  part  of  my  character  would  be  made  manifest,  and  that 
shame  and  punishment  would  overwhelm  me  in  utter  ruin. 
The  success  which  had  hitherto  attended  me  was  no  set-off 
against  the  risk  I  ran  of  losing  for  ever  this  lovely  girl,  and  the 
respect  and  esteem  of  her  father.     For  her  sake,  therefore,  I 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  215 

made  a  vow  for  ever  to  abaudon  this  infernal  system.  I  men- 
tion this  more  particularly  as  it  was  the  first  healthy  symptom 
of  amendment  I  had  discovered,  and  one  to  which  I  long  and 
tenaciously  adhered,  as  far,  at  least,  as  my  habits  and  pursuits 
in  life  would  allow  me.  I  forgot,  at  that  time,  that  to  be  in- 
genuous it  was  necessary  to  be  virtuous.  There  is  no  cause  of 
concealment  when  we  do  not  act  wrong. 

A  letter  from  Mr.  Someville  to  my  father  explained  my  con- 
duct ;  and  my  father,  in  reply,  said  I  certainly  must  have  been 
mad.  To  this  I  assented,  quoting  Shakspeare — "  the  lunatic, 
the  lover,  and  the  poet,"  &c.!  so  long  as  I  was  out  of  the 
scrape  I  cared  little  about  the  impeachment  of  my  rationality. 
■  The  days  at  the  hall  flew,  just  like  all  the  days  of  liai)py 
lovers,  confoundedly  fast.  The  more  I  saw  of  Emily,  the 
firmer  and  faster  did  she  rivet  my  chains.  I  was  her  slave;  but 
what  was  best,  I  became  a  convert  to  virtue,  because  she  was 
virtuous  ;  and  to  possess  her,  I  knew  I  must  become  as  like 
her  as  my  corrupt  mind  and  unruly  habits  would  permit.  I 
viewed  my  past  life  with  shame  and  contrition.  When  I  at- 
tended this  amiable,  lovely  creature  to  church  on  a  Sunday, 
and  saw  her  in  the  posture  of  devotion  before  her  Maker,  I 
thought  her  an  angel,  and  I  thought  it  heaven  to  be  near  her. 
All  my  thoughts  and  sentiments  seemed  changed  and  refined 
by  her  example  and  her  company.  The  sparks  of  religion,  so 
long  buried  in  the  ashes  of  worldly  corruption  and  infidelity, 
began  to  revive.  I  recalled  my  beloved  mother  and  the  Bible 
to  my  recollection  ;  and  could  I  have  been  permitted  to  have 
remained  longer  with  my  "governess,"  I  have  no  doubt  that  I 
should  have  regained  both  purity  of  mind  and  manner.  I 
should  have  bidden  adieu  to  vice  and  folly,  because  they  could 
not  have  dwelt  under  the  same  roof  with  Emily  ;  and  I  should 
have  loved  the  Bible  and  religion,  because  they  were  beloved 
by  her  ;  but  my  untoward  destiny  led  me  a  different  way. 


216  FRANK    MILDMAT  :    OR. 


CHAPTER  XVI. 

And  oft  his  smooth  and  bridled  tongue 

Would  give  the  lie  to  his  flushing  cheek ; 
He  was  a  coward  to  the  strong  : 

He  was  a  tyrant  to  the  weak.  Seeixey. 

My  father,  as  soon  as  he  had  obtained  my  promotion,  asked 
for  my  being  employed  ;  and  liaviug  had  a  promise  from  the 
Admiralty,  that  promise,  unlike  thousands  of  its  predecessors 
and  successors,  was  too  rapidly  fulfilled.  I  received  a  letter 
from  my  father,  and  a  bouncing  one  from  the  Admiralty,  by 
the  same  post,  announcing  officially  my  appointment  to  the 

D brig,  of  eighteen  guns,  at  Portsmouth,  whither  I  was 

directed  to  repair  immediately,  and  take  up  my  commission. 
In  this  transaction  I  soon  after  found  there  was  an  underplot, 
which  I  was  too  green  to  perceive  at  the  time  ;  but  the  wise 
heads  of  the  two  papas  had  agreed  that  a  separation  between 
the  lovers  was  absolutely  necessary,  and  that  the  longer  it  was 
delayed,  the  worse  it  would  be  for  both  of  us  ;  in  short,  that 
until  I  had  attained  my  rank,  nothing  should  be  thought  of  in 
the  way  of  matrimony. 

As  the  reader  is,  no  doubt,  by  this  time  pretty  well  versed 
in  all  the  dialogue  of  parting  lovers,  I  shall  not  intrude  upon 
his  or  her  patience  with  a  repetition  of  that  which  has  been 
much  too  often  repeated,  and  is  equally  familiar  to  the  prince 
and  the  ploughman.  I  should  as  soon  think  of  describing  the 
Devil's  Punch  Bowl,  on  the  road  to  Portsmouth,  where  I  ar- 
rived two  days  after  my  appointment. 

I  put  up  at  Biilett's  at  the  George,  as  a  matter  of  course, 
because  it  was  the  resort  of  all  the  naval  aristocracy,  and 
directly  opposite  to  the  admiral's  office.  The  first  person  for 
whom  I  made  ray  kind  enquiries  was  my  captain  elect ;  but  he 
herded  not  with  his  brother  epaulets.  He  did  not  live  at  the 
George,  nor  did  he  mess  at  the  Crown  ;  he  was  not  at  the 
Fountain,  nor  the  Parade  Coffee-house  ;  and  the  Blue  Posts 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  211 

ignored  him  ;  but  he  was  to  be  heard  of  at  the  Star  and  Gar- 
ter, on  the  tip  of  Portsmouth  Point.  He  did  not  even  live 
there,  but  generally  resided  on  board.  This  does  not  savour 
well  ;  I  never  like  your  captains  who  live  on  board  their  ships 
in  harbour  ;  no  ship  can  be  comfortable,  for  no  one  can  do  as 
he  pleases,  which  is  the  life  and  soul  of  a  man-of-war,  when  in 
port. 

To  the   Star  and   Garter   I  went,   and  asked  for  Captain 

G .     I  hoped  I  should  not  find  him  here  ;  for  this  house 

had  been,  time  out  of  mind,  the  rendezvous  of  warrant-officers, 
mates,  and  midshipmen.  Here,  however,  he  was;  I  sent  up  my 
card,  and  was  admitted  to  his  presence.  He  was  seated  in  a 
small  parlour,  with  a  glass  of  brandy  and  water,  or  at  least  the 
remains  of  it,  before  him;  his  feet  were  on  the  fender,  and  seve- 
ral official  documents  which  he  had  received  that  morning  were 
on  the  table.  He  rose  as  I  entered,  and  showed  uie  a  short, 
square-built  frame,  with  a  strong  pojection  of  the  sphere,  or 
what  the  Spaniards  call  hariga.  This  rotundity  of  corporation 
was,  however,  supported  by  as  fine  a  pair  of  Atlas  legs  as  ever 
were  worn  by  a  Bath  chairman.  His  face  was  rather  inclined 
to  be  handsome;  the  features  regular,  a  pleasant  smile  upon  his 
lips,  and  a  deep  dimple  in  his  chin.  But  his  most  remarkable 
feature  was  his  eye  ;  it  was  small,  but  piercing,  and  seemed  to 
possess  that  long-sought  desideratum  of  the  perpetual  motion, 
since  it  was  utterly  impossible  to  fix  it  for  one  moment  on 
any  object  ;  and  there  was  in  it  a  lurking  expression,  which, 
though  something  of  a  physiognomist,  I  could  not  readily  de- 
cipher. 

"  Mr,  Mildmay,"  said  my  skipper,  "  I  am  extremely  happy  to 
see  you,  and  still  more  so  that  you  have  been  appointed  to  my 
ship ;  will  you  be  seated  ?" 

As  I  obeyed,  he  turned  round,  and  rubbing  his  hands,  as  if 
he  had  just  laid  down  his  soap,  he  continued,  "  I  always  make 
it  a  rule,  previous  to  an  officer's  joining  my  ship,  to  learn  some- 
thing of  his  character  from  my  brother  captains;  it  is  a  precau- 
tion which  T  take,  as  T  consider  that  one  shablty  sheep,  <fcc.,  is 

10 


218  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

strictly  applicable  to  our  service.  I  wish  to  have  good  officers 
and  perfect  gentlemen  about  me.  There  are,  no  doubt,  mony 
officers  who  can  do  their  duty  well,  and  with  whom  I  should  have 
no  fault  to  find:  but  then  there  is  a  way  of  doing  it — a  modus 
in  rebus,  which  a  gentleman  only  can  attain  to;  coarse  manners, 
execrations,  and  abusive  language,  render  the  men  discontented, 
degrade  the  service,  and  are  therefore  very  properly  forbidden 
in  the  second  article  of  war.  Under  such  officers,  the  men 
always  work  unwillingly.  I  have  taken  the  liberty  of  making- 
some  inquiries  about  you ;  and  can  only  say,  that  all  I  have 
heard  is  to  your  advantage.  I  have  no  doubt  we  shall  suit  each 
other;  and  be  assured  it  shall  be  my  study  to  make  you  as  com- 
fortable as  possible." 

To  this  very  sensible  and  polite  address,  I  made  a  suitable 
reply.  He  then  stated  that  he  expected  to  sail  in  a  few  days; 
that  the  officer  whom  I  was  to  supersede  had  not  exactly  suited 
his  ideas,  although  he  believed  him  to  be  a  very  worthy  young 
man:  and  that  in  consequence,  he  had  applied  and  succeeded  in 
obtaining  for  him  another  appointment;  that  it  was  necessary 
he  should  join  his  ship  immediately ;  but,  of  course,  he  must  first 
be  superseded  by  me.  "Therefore,"  said  he,  "you  had  better 
meet  me  on  board  the  brig  to-morrow  morning  at  nine  o'clock, 
when  your  commission  shall  be  read ;  and  after  that  I  beg  you 
will  consider  yourself  your  own  master  for  a  few  days,  as  I  pre- 
sume you  have  some  little  arrangements  to  prepare  for  your 
cruise.  I  am  aware,"  pursued  he,  smiling  most  beuignantly, 
"that there  are  many  little  comforts  which  officers  wish  to  at- 
tend to;  such  as  fitting  their  cabins  and  looking  to  their  mess, 
and  a  thousand  other  nameless  things,  which  tend  to  pass  the 
time  and  break  up  the  monotony  of  a  sea  life.  Forty  years  have 
I  trod  the  king's  planks,  man  and  boy,  and  not  with  any  great 
success,  as  you  may  perceive,  by  the  rank  I  now  hold,  and  the 
life  I  am  leading;  for  here  I  sit  over  a  glass  of  humble  grog, 
instead  of  joining  ray  brother  captains  in  their  claret  at  the 
Crown;  but  I  have  two  sisters  to  support,  and  I  feel  more  satis- 
faction in  doing  my  duty  as  a  brother,  than  in  indulging  my 


I 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  219 

appetite;  although  I  own  I  have  no  dislike  to  a  glass  of  claret, 
when  it  does  not  come  before  me  in  a  questionable  shape.  I 
mean  when  I  have  not  got  to  pay  for  it,  which  I  cannot  afibrd. 
Now  do  not  let  me  take  up  any  more  of  your  time.  You  have 
plenty  of  acquaintances  whom  you  wish  to  see,  I  have  no  doubt; 
and  aS*for  ray  yarns,  they  will  do  to  pass  away  a  watch  when  we 
have  nothing  more  attractive  to  divert  us."  So  saying,  he  held 
out  his  hand,  and  shook  mine  most  cordially.  "  To-morrow  at 
nine  o'clock,"  he  repeated;  and  I  left  hira,  much  pleased  with 
my  interview. 

I  went  back  to  my  inn,  thinking  what  a  very  fortunate  fellow 
I  was  to  have  such  an  honest,  straight-forward,  bold,  British 
hero  of  a  captain,  on  my  first  appointment.  I  ordered  my  din- 
ner at  the  George,  and  then  strolled  out  to  make  my  purchases, 
and  give  my  orders  for  a  few  articles  for  sea  service.  I  fell  in 
with  several  old  messmates ;  they  congratulated  me  on  my  pro- 
motion, and  declared  I  should  give  them  a  dinner  to  wet  my 
commission,  to  which  I  readily  consented.  The  day  was  named, 
and  Mr.  Billett  was  ordered  to  provide  accordingly. 

Having  dined  solus,  I  amused  myself  in  writing  a  long  letter 
to  my  dear  Emily;  and  with  the  assistance  of  a  bottle  of  wine, 
succeeded  in  composing  a  tolerably  warm  and  rapturous  sort  of 
a  document,  which  I  sealed,  kissed,  and  sent  to  the  post-office; 
after  which  I  built  castles  till  bed-time;  but  not  one  castle  did 
I  build,  in  which  Emily  was  not  the  sole  mistress.  I  went  to 
bed  and  slept  soundly:  and  the  next  morning,  by  seven  o'clock,  I 
was  arrayed  in  a  spick-span  new  uniform,  with  an  immensely 
large  epaulet  stuck  on  my  right  shoulder.  Having  breakfasted 
I  sallied  out,  and  in  my  own  conceit,  was  as  handsome  a  chap 
as  ever  buckled  a  sword-belt.  I  skimmed  with  a  light  and  vigor- 
ous foot  down  Higli-street. 

"  Boat,  your  honour  ?"  said  a  dozen  voices  at  once,  as  I  reached 
Xcw  Sallyport;  bnt  I  was  resolved  that  Point-street  should  have 
a  look  at  me,  as  well  as  High-street ;  so  I  kept  a  profound  and 
mysterious  silence,  and  let  the  watermen  follow  me  to  Point, 
just  like  so  many  sucking  fisli  nftpr  ;i  sliark.     T  liad  1\vo  or  three 


220  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

offers  for  volunteers  to  serve  with  me  as  I  went  along;  but  they 
were  not  of  the  right  sex,  so  I  did  not  take  them. 

"  Boat  to  Spithead,  your  honour  ?"  said  a  tough  old  water- 
man. 

"  Ay,  you'll  do,"  said  I ;  so  I  jumped  into  his  wherry,  and 
we  shoved  off.  • 

"  What  ship  is  your  honour  going  to  ?"  said  the  man. 

"  To  the  D brig." 

"  Oh,  you  are  a  going  to  she,  are  you  ?  To  belong  to  her, 
mayhap  ?" 

"  Yes,"  I  replied. 

The  waterman  gave  a  sigh,  feathered  his  oar,  and  never 
spoke  another  word  till  we  came  alongside.  I  did  not  regret 
his  taciturnity,  for  I  was  always  more  amused  with  my  own 
thoughts,  than  in  conversing  with  ilUterate  people. 

The  brig  was  a  most  beautiful  vessel.  She  mounted  eighteen 
guns,  and  sat  on  the  water  like  a  duck.  I  perceived  that  the 
pennant  was  up  for  punishment,  and  this  I  thought  rather  an 
unusual  sight  at  Spithead  :  I  took  it  for  granted  that  some 
aggravated  offence,  such  as  theft  or  mutiny,  had  been  com- 
mitted. Seeing  I  was  an  officer,  I  was  admitted  alongside  ;  so 
I  paid  the  waterman,  and  sent  him  away.  As  I  went  up  the 
side,  I  saw  a  poor  fellow  spread-eagled  up  to  the  grating, 
"  according  to  the  manners  and  customs  of  the  natives,"  while 
the  captain,  officers,  and  ship's  company  stood  round  witnessing 
the  athletic  dexterity  of  a  boatswain's  mate,  who,  by  the  even, 
deep,  and  parallel  marks  of  the  cat  on  the  white  back  and 
shoulders  of  the  patient,  seemed  to  be  perfectly  master  of  his 
business.  All  this  did  not  surprise  me  :  I  was  used  to  it ;  but 
after  the  address  of  my  captain  on  the  preceding  day,  I  was 
very  much  surprised  to  hear  language  in  direct  violation  of  the 
second  article  of  war. 

Cursings  and  execrations  poured  out  of  his  mouth  with  a 
volubility  equal  to  any  of  the  most  accomplished  lady  on  the 
back  of  the  Point. 

"  Boatswain's  mate,"  roared  the  captain,  "  do  your  duty,  or 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  221 

by  G —  I  will  have  you  up,  and  give  your  four  dozen  yourself. 
One  would  think,  d — n  your  b — d,  that  yon  were  brushing  flies 
off  a  sleeping  Venus,  instead  of  punishing  a  scoundrel,  with  a 
hide  as  thick  as  a  buffalo's,  and  be  d — d  to  hira — do  your  duty, 
sir,  d — n  your  soul." 

During  this  elegant  address,  the  unhappy  wretch  had  received 
four  severe  dozen,  which  the  master-at-arms  had  counted  aloud, 
and  reported  to  the  captain.  "  Another  boatswain's  mate," 
said  he.  The  poor  creature  turned  his  head  over  his  shoulders 
with  an  imploring  look,  Lut  it  was  in  vain.  I  watched  the 
countenance  of  the  captain,  and  the  peculiar  expression,  which 
I  could  not  decipher,  at  my  first  interview,  I  now  read  most 
plainly  ;  it  was  malignant  cruelty,  and  delight  in  torturing  his 
okrn  species  ;  he  seemed  to  take  a  diabolical  pleasure  in  the 
hateful  operation  which  we  were  compelled  to  witness.  The 
second  boatswain's  mate  commenced,  with  a  fresh  cat,  and  gave 
a  lash  across  the  back  of  the  prisoner,  that  made  vie  start. 

"  One,"  said  the  master-at-arms,  beginning  to  count. 

"  One  1"  roared  the  captain  ;  "  do  you  call  that  one  ?  not  a 
quarter  of  a  one.  That  fellow  is  only  fit  for  fly-flapper  at 
a  pork  shop  1  I'll  disrate  yon,  by  G — ,  you  d — d  Molly  Mop; 
is  that  the  way  to  handle  a  cat ;  that's  only  wiping  the  dirt  off 
his  back.     Where's  the  boatswain  ?" 

"  Here,"  said  a  stout,  gigantic,  left-handed  fellow,  stepping 
forward,  with  a  huge  blue  uniform  coat  and  a  plain  anchor  but- 
ton, holding  his  hat  in  his  left  hand,  and  stroking  his  hair  down 
his  forehead  with  his  right.  I  surveyed  this  man  as  he  turned 
himself  about,  and  concluded,  that  the  tailor  who  worked  for 
him  had  been  threatened  with  a  specimen  of  his  art,  if  he 
stinted  him  in  cloth  ;  for  the  skirts  of  his  coat  were  ample,  ter- 
minating in  an  inclined  plane,  the  corners  of  the  front  being 
much  lower  than  the  middle  of  the  robe  behind  ;  the  buttons 
on  the  hips  were  nearly  pistol-shot  asunder. 

"  Give  this  man  a  dozen,  sir."  said  Captain  G ;  "  and  if 

you  favour  him,  I'll  put  you  under  arrest,  and  stop  your  liquor." 

This  last  part  of  the  threat  had  more  effect  with  Mr.  Pipes 


222  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

than  the  first.  He  began  to  peel,  as  the  boxers  call  it ;  off 
came  his  capacious  coat  ;  a  red  waist-coat — full-sized  for  a 
Smithfield  ox — was  next  deposited  ;  then  he  untied  a  black  silk 
handkerchief,  and  showed  a  throat,  covered  like  that  of  a  goat, 
with  long  brown  hairs,  thick  as  pack-thread.  He  next  rolled 
up  his  shirt-sleeves  above  his  elbow,  and  showed  an  arm  and  a 
back  very  like  the  Farnese  Hercules,  which,  no  doubt,  all  my 
readers  have  seen  at  the  foot  of  the  stair-case  at  Somerset- 
house,  when  they  have  been  to  the  exhibition. 

This  hopeful  commentator  on  articles  of  war  seized  his  cat ; 
the  handle  was  two-feet  long,  one  inch  and  three  quarters  thick, 
and  covered  with  red  baize.  The  tails  of  this  terrific  weapon 
were  three  feet  long,  n?he  in  number,  and  each  of  them  about 
the  size  of  that  line  which  covers  the  springs  of  a  travelling- 
carriage.  Mr.  Pipes,  whose  scientific  display  in  this  part  of  his 
art  had  no  doubt  procured  for  him  the  warrant  of  a  boatswain, 
in  virtue  of  which  he  now  stood  as  the  vindicator  of  the  laws 
of  his  country,  handled  his  cat  like  an  adept,  looked  at  it  from 
top  to  bottom,  cleared  all  the  tails,  by  the  insertion  of  his  deli- 
cate fingers,  and  combing  them  out,  stretched  out  his  left  leg — 
for  he  was  left-legged  as  well  as  left-handed — and  measuring 
his  distance  with  the  accurate  eye  of  an  engineer,  raised  his  cat 
high  in  air  with  his  left  hand,  his  right  still  holding  the  tips  of 
of  the  tails,  as  if  to  restrain  their  impatience  ;  when,  giving 
his  arm  and  body  a  full  swing,  embracing  three-fourths  of  the 
circle,  he  inflicted  a  tremendous  stroke  on  the  back  of  the 
unfortunate  culprit.  This  specimen  seemed  to  satisfy  the  ama- 
teur captain,  who  nodded  approbation  to  the  inquiring  look  of 
the  amateur  boatswain.  The  poor  man  lost  his  respiration  from 
the  force  of  the  blow  ;  and  the  tails  of  the  cat  coming  from  an 
opposite  direction  to  the  first  four  dozen,  cut  the  flesh  diamond- 
wise,  bringing  the  blood  at  every  blow. 

I  will  not  wound  the  feelings  of  ray  readers  with  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  poor  wretch's  situation.  Even  at  this  distance  of 
time,  I  am  shocked  at  it,  and  bitterly  lament  the  painful  neces- 
sity I  have  often  been  under  of  inflicting  similar  punishment ; 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  223 

but  I  bope  and  trust  I  never  did  it  without  a  cause,  or  in  the 
wanton  disphiy  of  arbitrary  power. 

The  last  dozen  being  finished,  the  sum  total  was  reported  by 
the  master-at-arms,  "  five-dozen  1" 

"  Five  dozen  !"  repeated  Captain  G ;  "  that  will  do — 

cast  him  off.  And  now,  sir,"  said  he,  to  the  fainting  wretch  : 
"  I  hope  this  will  be  a  warning-  to  you,  that  the  next  time  you 
wish  to  empty  your  beastly  mouth,  you  will  not  spit  on  my 
quarter-deck." 

"  Heavens  !"  thought  I,  "  is  all  this  for  spitting  on  the 
quarter-deck  ?  and  this  from  the  moralist  of  yesterday,  who 
allowed  neither  oaths  nor  execrations,  and  has  uttered  more 
blasphemy  in  the  last  ten  minutes,  than  I  have  heard  for  the 
last  ten  weeks." 

I  had  not  yet  caught  the  captain's  eye — he  was  too  intent  on 
his  amusement.  As  soon  as  the  prisoner  was  cast  loose,  he 
comjjianded  to  pipe  down,  or  in  other  words,  to  dismiss  the  peo- 
ple to  their  usual  occupations,  when  I  went  up  to  him,  and 
touched  my  hat. 

"  Oh  !  you  are  come,  are  you  ?  Pipe,  belay  there — send 
every  body  aft  on  the  quarter-deck." 

My  connnission  was  then  read  :  all  hats  oflF  in  respect  to  the 
sovereign,  from  whom  the  authority  was  derived.  After  this,  I, 
being  duly  inaugurated,  became  the  second-lieutenant  of  the 
sloop  ;  and  the  captain,  without  condescending  to  give  me 
another  word  or  look,  ordered  his  gig  to  be  manned,  and  was 
going  on  shore.  I  was  not  presented  by  him  to  any  of  the  offi- 
cers, which,  in  common  courtesy,  he  ought  to  have  done.  This 
omission,  however,  was  supplied  by  the  first-lieutenant,  who 
invited  me  down  into  the  gun-room,  to  introduce  me  to  my  new 
messmates.  We  left  the  tiger  pacing  up  and  down  on  his 
quarter-deck. 

The  first-lieutenant  was  of  the  medium  stature,  a  suitable 
height  for  a  sloop  of  war,  a  spare  figure,  of  about  forty  y£ars 
of  age;  he  had  but  one  eye,  and  that  eye  was  as  odd  a  one  as 
the  captain's.     There  was  in  it,  however,  unlike  the  captain's, 


224  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

an  infinite  deal  of  humour,  and  when  he  cocked  it,  as  he  con 
stantly  did,  it  ahiiost  spoke.  I  never  saw  three  such  eyes  in 
two  such  heads.  There  was  a  lurking  smile  in  the  lieutenant's 
fnce,  when  I  told  him  that  the  captain  had  desired  me  to  come 
oa  board  and  read  my  commission,  after  which  I  might  have  two 
or  three  days  to  myself  to  prepare  for  sea. 

"  Well,"  said  he,  "you  had  better  go  and  ask  him  now;  but 
you  will  find  him  a  rum  one." 

Accordingly,  up  I  went  to  see  him.  "  Have  you  any  objec- 
tion to  my  going  on  shore,  sir  ?" 

"  Shore,  sir  !"  bellowed  he  ;  "  and  who  the  devil  is  to  carry 
on  the  duty,  if  you  go  on  shore  ?  Shore,  eh  !  I  wish  there 
was  no  shore,  and  then  d— n  the  dog  that  couldu't  swim!  No, 
sir  ;  you  have  had  shore  enough.  The  service  is  going  to  hell, 
sir  1  A  parcel  of  brats,  with  lieutenants'  commissions  before 
they  should  have  been  clear  of  the  nursery  1  No,  sir  ;  stay  on 
board,  or,  damn  me,  I'll  break  you,  like  an  egg-shell,  before 
you  have  taken  the  shine  out  of  that  fine  new  epaulet  1  No, 
no,  by  G — ;  no  more  cats  here  than  catch  mice.  You  stay  on 
board,  and  do  your  duty  :  every  man  does  his  duty  here  ;  and 
let  me  see  the that  don't  do  it  I" 

I  was  in  some  measure  prepared  for  this  sublime  harangue  ; 
but  still  there  was  sufficient  room  in  my  mind  to  admit  of  great 
astonishment  at  this  sudden  change  of  wind.  I  replied  that  he 
had  promised  me  leave  yesterday,  and  that  upon  the  strength 
of  that  promise  I  had  left  all  my  things  on  shore,  and  that  I 
was  not  in  any  way  prepared  to  go  to  sea. 

"  I  promised  you  leave,  did  I  ?  Perhaps  I  did  ;  but  that 
was  only  to  get  you  on  board.  I  am  up  to  your  tricks,  you 
d — n  young  chaps  :  when  you  get  on  shore  there  is  no  getting 
you  off  again.  No,  no  ;  no-catchee  no-habee  !  You  would 
not  have  made  your  appearance  these  three  days,  if  I  hadn't 
sugared  the  trap  !  Now  I  have  got  you,  I'll  keep  you,  d — n 
my  eyes  !" 

"  I  repeated  my  request  to  go  on  shore;  but,  without  conde- 
scending to  offer  any  further  reasons,  he  answered — 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  225 

"  I'd  see  you  d — d  first,  sir  !  Aud  observe,  T  never  admit  of 
expostulation.  Nothing  affords  me  more  pleasure  than  to 
oblige  my  officers  in  every  thing  reasonable;  but  I  never  per- 
mit reply  !" 

Thought  I  to  myself,  "  You  certainly  have  escaped  from 
hell,  and  I  do  not  see  how  the  infernal  regions  can  do  without 
you.  You  would  have  been  one  of  the  most  ingenious  tormen- 
tors of  the  damned.  Domitian  would  have  made  you  admiral, 
aud  your  boatswain  captain  of  the  fleet  !" 

Having  made  this  reflection,  as  I  took  a  turn  or  two  on  deck, 
thinking  what  was  best  to  be  done,  and  knowing  that  "  the 
king  could  do  no  wrong,"  the  officer  whom  I  had  just  super- 
seded came  up  the  hatchway,  and,  touching  his  hat  very 
respectfully  to  the  captain,  asked  whether  he  might  go  on  shore. 

"  You  may  go  to  hell,  and  be  d — d,  sir  !"  said  the  captain, 
(who  hated  bad  language) ;  "  you  are  not  fit  to  carry  guts  to  a 
bear  ! — you  are  not  worth  your  salt ;  and  the  sooner  you  are 
off",  the  cleaner  the  ship  will  be  !  Don't  stand  staring  at  me, 
like  a  bull  over  a  gate !  Down,  and  pack  up  your  traps,  or  I'll 
freshen  your  way  1"  rising  his  foot  at  the  same  time,  as  if  he 
was  going  to  kick  him. 

The  young  officer,  who  was  a  mild,  gentlemanly,  and  coura- 
geous youth,  did  as  he  was  bidden.  I  was  perfectly  astonished: 
I  had  been  accustomed  to  sail  with  gentlemen.  I  had  heard 
of  martinets  and  disciplinarians,  and  foul-mouthed  captains  ; — 
but  this  outdid  all  I  ever  could  have  conceived,  and  much  more 
than  I  thought  ever  could  have  been  submitted  to  by  any  cor- 
rect officer.  Roused  to  indignation,  and  determined  not  to  be 
treated  in  this  manner,  I  again  walked  up  to  him,  and  requested 
leave  to  go  on  shore. 

"  You  have  had  your  answer,  sir." 

"  Yes,  I  have,  sir,"  said  I,  "  and  in  language  that  I  never 
before  heard  on  his  majesty's  quarter-deck.  I  joined  this  ship 
as  an  officer  and  a  gentleman,  and  as  such  I  will  be  treated." 

"  Mutiny,  by  G —  !"  roared  the  captain.  "  Cock-a-hoop 
with  your  new  commission,  before  the  ink  is  dry  !" 

10* 


226  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  As  you  please,  sir,"  I  replied  ;  "  but  I  shall  write  a  letter 
to  the  port-admiral,  stating  the  circumstances,  and  requesting 
leave  of  absence  ;  and  that  letter  I  shall  trouble  you  to  for- 
ward." 

"  I'll  be  d— d  if  I  do  ?"  said  he. 

" Then,  sir,  said  I,  "as  you  have  refused  to  forward  it,  and 
in  the  presence  of  all  the  officers  and  ship's  company,  I  shall 
forward  it  without  troubling  you." 

This  last  shot  of  mine  seemed  to  produce  the  same  effect 
upon  him  that  the  last  round  does  upon  a  beaten  boxer  ;  he 
did  not  come  to  time,  but,  muttering  something,  dived  down 
the  companion,  and  went  into  his  cabin. 

The  first-lieutenant  uow  came  up,  and  congratulated  me  on 
my  victory.  "  You  have  puzzled  and  muzzled  the  bear  com- 
pletely," said  he  ;  "I  have  long  wanted  a  coadjutor  like  your- 
self. Wilson,  who  is  going  to  leave  us,  is  the  best  creature 
that  ever  lived  ;  but  though  brave  as  a  lion  before  an  enemy, 
he  is  cowed  by  this  incarnate  devil." 

Our  conversation  was  interrupted  by  a  message  from  the 
captain,  who  desired  to  speak  with  me  in  his  cabin.  I  went 
down  ;  he  received  me  with  the  benignant  smile  of  our  first 
acquaintance. 

"  Mr.  Mildmay,"  said  he,  "  I  always  assume  a  little  tartness 
with  my  officers  when  they  first  join,"  (and  when  they  quit  you 
too,  thought  I),  "  not  only  to  prove  to  them  that  I  am  and  will 
be  the  captain  of  my  own  ship,  but  also  as  an  example  to  the 
men,  who,  when  they  see  what  the  officers  are  forced  to  put  up 
with,  feel  themselves  more  contented  with  their  lot,  and  obey 
more  readily  ;  but,  as  I  told  you  before,  tlie  comfort  of  my  offi- 
cers is  my  constant  study — you  arc  welcome  to  go  ashore,  and 
have  twenty-four  hours  leave  to  collect  your  necessaries." 

To  tliis  harangue  I  made  no  reply  ;  but  touching  my  hat, 
quitted  the  cabin.  I  felt  so  much  contempt  for  the  man  that  I 
was  afraid  to  speak,  lest  I  should  commit  myself. 

The  captain  shortly  after  quitted  the  ship,  telling  the  first- 
lieutenant  iliat  T  had  permission  to  go  on  shore.     I  was  now 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  22T 

left  at  lil)erty  to  make  acquaintance  with  my  companions  in 
misery — and  nothing  conduces  to  intimacy  so  much  as  connnu- 
nity  of  suffering.  My  resistance  to  the  brutality  of  our  com- 
mon task-master  had  pleased  them  ;  they  told  me  what  a 
tyrant  and  what  a  disgrace  to  the  service  he  was,  and  how 
shameful  it  was  that  he  should  be  intrusted  with  the  command 
of  so  fine  a  vessel,  or  of  any  vessel  at  all,  except  it  were  a  con- 
vict ship.  The  stories  they  told  me  of  him  were  almost  incre- 
dible, and  nothing  but  the  too  well  founded  idea,  that  an  officer 
trying  his  captain  by  a  court-martial  had  a  black  mark  against 
him  for  ever  after,  and  was  never  known  to  rise,  could  have 
saved  this  man  from  the  punishment  he  so  richly  deserved  : — 
no  officer,  they  said,  had  been  more  than  three  weeks  in  the 
ship,  and  they  were  all  making  interest  to  leave  her. 

In  my  report  of  what  occurred  in  this  vessel  during  the  time 
I  belonged  to  her,  I  must,  in  justice  to  the  captains  and  com- 
manders of  his  majesty's  navy  observe,  that  the  case  was  unique 

of  its  kind — such  a  character  as  Captain  G was  rarely  met 

with  iu  the  navy  then,  and,  for  reasons  which  I  shall  give,  will 
be  still  more  rare  in  future.  The  first-lieutenant  told  me  that  I 
had  acted  very  judiciously  in  resisting  at  first  his  undue  exertion 
of  authority;  that  he  was  at  once  a  tyrant,  a  bully,  and  a  cow- 
ard, and  would  be  careful  how  he  attacked  me  again.  "  But  be 
on  your  guard,"  said  he,  "he  will  never  forgive  you;  and  when 
he  is  most  agreeable,  there  is  the  most  mischief  to  be  dreaded. 
He  will  lull  you  into  security,  and  whenever  he  can  catch  you 
tripping,  he  will  try  you  by  a  court-martial.  You  had  better 
go  on  shore,  and  settle  all  your  business,  and,  if  possible,  be  on 
board  before  your  leave  is  out.  It  was  only  your  threat  of 
writing  to  the  port-admiral  that  procured  you  leave  of  absence. 
You  have  nothing  to  thank  him  for  :  he  would  have  kept  you  on 
board  if  he  dared.  I  have  never  quitted  the  ship  since  I  joined 
her;  and  never  has  a  day  passed  without  a  sceue  similar  to  what 
you  have  this  morning  witnessed.  And  yet,"  continued  lie,  "  if 
it  were  not  for  his  cruelty  to  the  men,  he  is  the  most  amusing 
liar  I  ever  heard.     I  am  often  more  inclined  to  laugh  than  to 


228  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

be  angry  at  him;  he  has  a  vein  of  wit  and  rich  humour  that  runs 
through  his  composition  and  never  quits  him.  There  is  drollery 
even  in  his  malice,  and  if  we  cannot  get  clear  of  him,  we  must 
make  the  best  of  him." 

I  went  on  shore,  collected  all  my  clothes  and  the  other  arti- 
cles of  which  I  stood  in  need,  and  was  on  board  my  ship  again 
the  next  morning  before  eight  o'clock. 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

He  will  lie,  sir,  ■with  such  volubility,  that  j'ou  would  think  truth  were  a  fopl ;  drunken- 
ness is  his  best  virtue ;  for  he  will  be  swine-drunk  ;  and  in  his  sleep  he  does  little  harm. 

Shakspeare. 

When  Captain  G made  his  appearance,  he  seemed  to  be  in 

the  most  amiable  humour  possible.  As  soon  as  he  saw  me  he 
said,  "  Ah,  this  is  what  I  like  ;  never  break  your  leave  even  for 
five  minutes.  Now  that  I  see  I  can  trust  you,  you  may  go  on 
shore  again  as  soon  as  you  please." 

This  speech  might  have  done  very  well  to  any  person  before 
the  mast;  bnt  as  applied  to  an  officer,  I  thought  it  rude  and 
ungentlemanly. 

The  caterer  had  prepared  lunch  in  the  gun-room  :  it  consisted 
of  beef-steaks  and  broiled  bullock's  kidneys,  with  fried  onions  ; 
and  their  savory  smell  rose  in  grateful  steams  up  the  sky-light, 
and  assailed  the  nostrils  of  the  skipper.  His  facetious  small-talk 
knew  no  bounds;  he  leaned  over  the  frame,  and,  looking  down, 
said — 

"  I  say,  something  devilish  good  going  on  there  below  1" 

The  hint  was  taken,  and  the  first-lieutenant  invited  him  down. 

"  I  don't  care  if  I  do;  I  am  rather  peckish." 

So  saying,  he  was  down  the  hatchway  in  the  twinkling  of  one 
of  his  own  funny  eyes,  as  he  feared  the  choice  bits  would  be 
gone  before  he  could  get  into  action.  We  all  followed  him; 
and  as  he  seated  himself,  he  said 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  229 

"  I  trust,  gentlemen,  this  is  not  the  last  time  I  shall  sit  in  the 
gun-room,  and  that  you  will  all  consider  my  cabin  as  your  own. 
I  love  to  make  my  officers  comfortable  :  nothing  more  delightful 
than  a  harmonious  ship,  where  every  man  and  boy  is  ready  to 
go  to  hell  for  his  officers.  That's  what  I  call  good  fellowship — 
give  and  take — make  proper  allowances  for  one  another's  fail- 
ings, and  we  shall  be  sorry  when  the  time  comes  for  us  to  part. 
I  am  afraid,  however,  that  I  shall  not  be  long  with  you  ;  for 

though  I  dote  upon  the  brig,  the  Duke  of  N and  Lord 

George have  given  the  first  lord  a  d — d  whigging  for  not 

promoting .  me  sooner ;  and,  between  ourselves,  I  don't  wish  to 
go  farther — my  post  commission  goes  out  with  me  to  Barba- 
does." 

The  first-lieutenant  cocked  his  eye  ;  and  quick  as  were  the 
motions  of  that  eye,  the  captain,  with  a  twist  of  one  of  his  own, 
caught  a  glimpse  of  it,  before  it  could  be  returned  to  its  bear- 
ing on  the  central  object,  the  beef-steaks,  kidneys  and  onions. 
But  it  passed  off  without  remark. 

"  A  very  capital  steak  this  !  I'll  trouble  you  for  some  fat 
and  a  little  gravy.  We'll  have  some  jollification  when  we  getP 
to  sea  ;  but  we  must  get  into  blue  water  first :  then  we  shall 
have  less  to  do.  Talking  of  broiling  steaks,  when  I  was  in 
Egypt,  we  used  to  broil  our  beef-steaks  on  the  rocks — no  occa- 
sion for  fire — thermometer  at  200 — hot  as  h —  !  I  have  seen 
four  thousand  men  at  a  time  cooking  for  the  whole  army  as 
much  as  twenty  or  thirty  thousand  pounds  of  steaks  at  a  time, 
all  hissing  and  frying  at  a  time — just  about  noon,  of  course,  you 
know — not  a  spark  of  fire  !  Some  of  the  soldiers,  who  had  been 
brought  up  as  glass-blowers,  at  Leith,  swore  they  never  saw 
such  heat.  I  used  to  go  to  leeward  of  them  for  a  whiff,  and 
think  of  old  England  !  Ah,  that's  the  country,  after  all,  where 
a  man  may  think  and  say  what  he  pleases  !  But  that  sort  of 
work  did  not  last  long,  as  you  may  suppose ;  their  eyes  were  all 
fried  out,  d — n  me,  in  three  or  four  weeks  !  I  had  been  ill  in 
my  bed,  for  I  was  attached  to  the  72d  regiment,  seventeen  hun- 
dred strong.     I  had  a  party  of  seamen  with  me;  but  the  oph- 


230 


FRANK    MILDMAY  I    OR, 


thalmia  made  such  ravages,  that  the  whole  regiment,  colonel 
and  all,  went  stone  blind,  all  except  one  corporal  !  You  may 
stare,  gentlemen,  but  it's  very  true.  Well,  this  corporal  had  a 
precious  time  of  it  :  he  was  obhged  to  lead  out  the  whole  regi- 
ment to  water — he  led  the  way,  and  two  or  three  took  hold  of 
the  skirts  of  his  jacket,  on  each  side  ;  the  skirts  of  these  were 
seized  again  by  as  many  more;  and  double  the  number  to  the 
last,  and  so  all  held  on  by  one  another,  till  they  had  all  had  a 
■  drink  at  the  well ;  and,  as  the  devil  would  have  it,  there  was 
but  one  well  among  us  all — so  this  corporal  used  to  water  the 
regiment  just  as  a  groom  waters  his  horses ;  and  all  spreading 
out,  you  know,  just  like  the  tail  of  a  peacock." 

"  Of  which  the  corporal  was  the  rump,''  interrupted  the  doctor. 

The  captain  looked  grave. 

"  You  found  it  warm  in  the  country  ?"  inquired  the  surgeon.  _ 

"Warm!"  exclaimed  the  captain;  "I'll  tell  you  what, 
Doctor,  when  you  go  where  you  have  sent  many  a  patient,  and 
where,  for  that  very  reason,  you  certainly  will  go,  I  only  hope 
for  your  sake,  and  that  of  your  profession  in  general,  that  you 
'will  not  find  it  quite  so  hot  as  we  found  it  in  Egypt.  What  do 
you  think  of  nineteen  of  my  men  being  killed  by  the  concen- 
trated rays  of  light  falling  on  the  barrels  of  the  sentinels'  bright 
muskets,  and  setting  fire  to  the  powder  ?  I  commanded  a 
mortar  battery  at  Acre,  and  I  did  the  French  infernal  mischief 
with  the  shells.  I  used  to  pitch  in  among  them  when  they  had 
set  down  to  dinner  :  but  how  do  you  think  the  scoundrels 
weathered  on  me  at  last  ?  D — n  me,  they  trained  a  parcel  of 
poodle  dogs  to  watch  the  shells  when  they  fell,  and  then  to  run 
and  pull  the  fuses  out  with  their  teeth.  Did  you  ever  hoar  of 
such  d — d  villains  ?  By  this  means,  they  saved  hundreds  of 
men  and  only  lost  half  a  dozen  dogs — fact,  by  G — ;  only  ask 
Sir  Sydney  Smith  ;  he'll  tell  you  the  same,  and  a  d — d  sight 
more." 

The  volubility  of  his  tongue  was  only  equalled  by  the  rapidity 
of  his  invention  and  powers  of  mastication  ;  for  during  the 
whole  of  this  cnlertainin<'-  monodrame  his  teeth  were  in  con- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  231 

stant  motion,  like  the  traversiug  beam  of  a  steamboat  ;  and  as 
he  was  our  captain  as  well  as  oar  gaest,  he  certainly  took  the 
lion's  share  of  the  repast. 

"  iiut,  I  say,  Soundings,"  said  he,  addressing  himself  fami- 
liarly to  the  master,  who  had  not  been  long  in  the  vessel,  "  let 
us  see  what  sort  of  stuff  you  have  stowed  the  fore-hold  with. 
You  know  I  am  a  water  drinker  ;  give  me  only  the  pure  limpid 
stream  and  a  child  ipay  lead  me.  I  seldom  .touch  liquor  when 
the  water  is  good."  So  saying  he  poured  out  a  tumbler,  and 
held  it  to  his  nose.  "  Stinks  like  h — !  I  say,  master,  are  you 
sure  the  bungs  are  in  your  casks  ?  The  cats  have  been  contri- 
buting to  the  fluid.  We  must  qualify  this  ;"  and  having  poured 
out  half  of  the  water,  which,  by-thc-by,  was  very  good,  he  sup- 
plied the  vacancy  with  rum.  Then  tasting  it,  he  said,  "  Come, 
Miss  Puss  ;  this  will  rouse  you  out  at  any  rate." 

A  moment's  pause,  while  he  held  the  bumper  before  his  eye, 
and  then,  down  it  went,  producing  no  other  emotion  than  a 
deep  sigh.  "  By-the-by,  that's  well  thought  of — we'll  have  no 
cats  in  this  ship,  (except  those  which  the  depravity  of  human 
nature  unhappily  compels  the  boatswain  to  use).  Mr.  Skysail, 
you'll  look  to  that.     Throw  them  all  overboard." 

Taking  his  hat,  he  rose  from  the  table,  and  mounting  the 
ladder,  "On  second  thought,"  said  he,  addressing  Skysail  again, 
"  I  won't  throw  the  cats  overboard  ;  the  sailors  have  a  foolish 
superstition  about  that  animal — it's  d — d  unlucky.  No  ;  put 
them  alive  in  a  bread-bag,  and  seiid  them  on  shore  in  the  bum- 
boat." 

Recollecting  that  my  dinner-party  at  the  George  was  to  take 
place  this  day,  and  remembering  the  captain's  promise  that  I 
should  go  on  shore  whenever  I  pleased,  I  thought  it  only  neces- 
sary to  say  I  was  going,  merely  passing  the  usual  compliment 
to  my  superiors.  I  therefore  went  to  him,  with  modest  assur- 
ance, and  told  him  of  my  engagement  and  my  intention. 

"  Upon  my  honour,  sir,"  cried  he,  putting  his  arms  a-kimbo, 
and  staring  me  full  in  the  face  :  "  you  have  a  tolerable  sea- 
stoc^  of  UKxlest  assurance  ;  no  sooner  come  on  board  than  you 


232  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OK, 

ask  leave  to  go  on  vshore  again,  and  at  the  same  time  you  have 
the  impudence  to  tell  me,  knowing  how  much  I  abhor  the  vice, 
that  you  mean  to  wet  your  commission,  and  of  course  to  get 
beastly  drunk,  and  to  make  others  as  bad  as  yourself.  No,  sir; 
I'd  have  you  to  know,  that  as  captain  of  this  ship,  and  as  long 
as  I  have  the  honour  to  command  her,  I  am  magistcr  miorumP 

"  That  is  precisely  what  I  was  coming  to,  sir,"  said  I,  "  when 
you  interrupted  me.  Knowing  how  difficult  it  is  to  keep  young 
men  in  order,  without  the  presence  of  some  one  whom  they  re- 
spect, and  can  look  up  to  as  an  example,  I  was  going  to  request 
the  honour  of  your  company  as  my  guest.  Nothing,  in  my 
opinion,  could  so  effectually  repress  any  tendency  to  improper 
indulgence."  y 

"  There  you  speak  like  a  child  of  my  own  bringing  up," 

replied  Captam  G .     "I  did  not  give  you  credit  for  so 

much  good  sense.  I  am  far  from  throwing  a  wet  blanket  over 
any  innocent  mirth.  Man  is  man  after  all — give  him  but  the 
bare  necessaries  of  life,  and  he  is  no  more  than  a  dog.  A  little 
mirth  on  such  an  occasion  is  not  only  justifiable,  but  praise- 
worthy. The  health  of  a  good  king,  like  ours,  God  bless  him, 
should  always  be  drank  in  good  wine ;  and  as  you  say  the  party 
is  to  be  select,  and  the  occasion  the  wetting  of  your  commission, 
I  shall  have  no  objection  to  come  and  give  away  the  bride ;  but, 
remember,  no  hard  drinking — no  indecorum — and  I'll  do  my 
best,  not  only  to  keep  the  young  bloods  in  order,  but  to  add 
my  humble  powers  to  the  hilarity  of  the  evening." 

I  thanked  him  for  this  kind  condescension.  He  then  gave  a 
few  directions  to  Skysail,  the  first-lieutenant,  and,  ordering  his 
gig  to  be  manned,  offered  me  a  passage  on  shore. 

This  was,  indeed,  a  mark  of  favour  never  before  conferred  on 
any  officer  in  the  ship,  and  all  hands  spontaneously  turned  out 
to  see  the  sight.  The  first-lieutenant  cocked  his  eye,  which  was 
more  than  saying,  "This  is  too  good  to  last  long."  However, 
into  the  boat  we  went,  and  pulled  away  for  old  Sally-port. 
The  harbour-tide  rolling  out,  we  passed  close  to  the  buoy  of  the 
Boyne. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  233 

"  Ah  !  well  I  remember  that  old  ship  ;  I  was  midshipman 
of  her  when  she  blew  up.  I  was  signal  midshipman.  I  was  in 
the  act  of  making  the  signal   of  distress  when  up   I   went. 

D u  !    I   thought  I  never  should'  have   come   down  any 

more." 

"  Indeed,  sir,"  said  I,  "  I  thought  there  had  been  no  one  on 
board  at  the  time." 

"  No  one  on  board  !"  repeated  the  captain,  with  scorn  on  his 
upper  lip,  "  who  did  you  get  that  from  ?" 

"  I  heard  it  from  a  captain  I  served  with  in  America." 

"  Then  you  may  tell  your  captain,  with  my  compliments,  that 
he  knew  nothing  at  all  about  it.  No  one  on  board  1  Why, 
dr— n  me,  sir,  the  poop  was  crowded  like  a  sheep-fold,  and  all 
bellowing  to  me  for  help.  I  told  them  all  to  go  to  h — ,  and 
just  at  that  moment  away  we  all  went,  sure  enough.  I  was 
picked  up  senseless,  I  was  told,  somewhere  in  Stokes-bay,  and 
carried  to  Ilaslar  hospital,  where  I  was  given  over  for  three 
months — never  spoke.  At  last  I  got  well  ;  and  the  first  thing 
I  did,  was  to  take  a  boat  and  go  and  dive  down  the  fore-hold 
of  my  old,  ship,  and  swam  aft  to  the  bread-room." 

"  And  what  did  you  see,  sir  ?"  said  I. 

"  Oh,  nothing,  except  lots  of  human  skeletons,  and  whitings 
in  abundance,  swimming  between  their  ribs.  I  brought  up 
my  old  quadrant  out  of  the  starboard  wing,  where  I  was 
adjusting  it  when  the  alarm  was  given.  I  found  it  hing 
on  the  table  just  where  1  left  it.  I  never  shall  forget  what 
a  d — d  rap  we  hit  the  old  Queen  Charlotte,  with  our  larboard 
broadside  ;  every  gun  went  slap  into  her,  double-shotted. 
D — n  my  eyes,  I  suppose  we  riddled  at  least  a  hundred 
men." 

"  Why,  sir,"  said  I,  "  I  always  understood  she  only  lost  two 
men  on  that  occasion." 

"Who  told  you  that?"  said  Captain  G ;   "your  old 

captain  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  I,  "  he  was  a  midshipman  in  her." 

"  He  be  d— d,"  said  my  skipper  ;  "  to  my  certain  know- 


234  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

ledge,  three  launch  loads  of  dead  bodies  were  taken  out  of 
her,  and  carried  to  the  hospital  for  interment." 

As  the  boat  touched  the  landing-place,  this  accomplished 
liar  had  time  to  take  breath,  and,  in  fact,  I  was  afraid  he 
would  have  exhausted  his  stock  of  lies  before  dinner,  and 
kept  nothing  for  the  dessert.  When  we  landed,  he  went  to 
his  old  quarters  at  the  Star  and  Garter,  and  I  to  the  George. 
I  reminded  him,  at  parting,  that  six  o'clock  was  my  hour." 

"  Never  fear  me,"  said  he. 

I  collected  my  company  previous  to  his  arrival,  and  told 
my  friends  that  it  was  my  determination  to  make  him  drunk, 
and  that  they  must  assist  me,  which  they  promised  to  do. 
Having  once  placed  him  in  that  predicament,  I  was  quite 
sure  I  should  stop  his  future  discourses  in  favour  of  temper- 
ance. My  companions,  perfectly  aware  of  the  sort  of  man 
they  had  to  deal  with,  treated  him  on  his  entrance  with  the 
most  flattering  marks  of  respect.  I  introduced  them  all  to 
him  in  the  most  formal  manner,  taking  them  to  him  one  by 
one,  just  as  we  are  presented  at  court — to  compare  great 
things  with  small.  His  good  humour  was  at  its  highest  spring- 
tide ;  the  honour  of  drinking  wine  with  him  was  separately 
and  respectfully  asked,  and  most  condescendingly  granted  to 
every  person  at  the  table. 

"  Capital  salmon  this,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  where  does  Billett 
get  it  from  ?  By-the-by,  talking  of  that,  did  you  ever  hear  of 
the  pickled  salmon  in  Scotland  ?" 

We  all  replied  in  the  affirmative. 

"  Oh,  you  don't  take.  D — n  it,  I  don't  mean  dead  pickled 
sahnou  ;  I  mean  live  pickled  salmon,  swimming  about  in  tanks, 
as  merry  as  grigs,  and  as  hungry  as  rats." 

We  all  expressed  our  astonislimcnt  at  this,  aiid  declared  we 
never  heard  of  it  before. 

"  I  thought  not,"  said  he  ;  "  for  it  has  only  lately  been 
introduced  into  this  country,  by  a  particular  friend  of  mine,^ 
Dr.  Mc .  I  cannot  just  now  remember  his  d — d  jaw- 
breaking  Scotch  name  ;  he  was  a  great  chemist  and  geologist, 


THE    XAVAL    OFFICER.  235 

and  al]  that  sort  of  thing — a  clever  fellow  I  can  tell  you, 
though  you  may  laugli.  Well — this  fellow,  sir,  took  nature 
by  the  heels  and  capsized  her,  as  we  say.  I  have  a  strong 
idea  that  he  had  sold  himself  to  the  devil.  Well — what  does 
he  do,  but  Jie  catches  salmon  and  puts  them  into  tanks,  and 
every  day  added  more  and  more  salt,  till  the  water  was  as 
thick  as  gruel,  and  the  fish  could  hardly  wag  their  tails  m 
it.  Then  he  threw  in  whole  pepper-corns,  half  a  dozen  pounds 
at  a  time,  till  there  was  enough.  Then  he  began  to  dilute 
with  vinegar,  until  his  pickle  was  complete.  The  fish  did 
not  half  like  it  at  first,  but  habit  is  every  thing,  and  when 
he  showed  me  his  tank,  they  were  swimming  about  as  merry 
as  a  shoal  of  dace  ;  he  fed  them  with  fennel  chopped  sniall, 
and  black  pepper-corns.  '  Come,  doctor,  says  I,  '  I  trust  no 
man  upon  tick  ;  if  I  don't  taste,  I  won't  believe  my  own  eyes, 
though  I  can  believe  my  tongue.^  (We  looked  at  each  other.) 
'  That  you  shall  do  in  a  minute,'  says  he  ;  so  he  whipped 
one  of  them  out  with  a  landing  net  ;  and  when  I  stuck  my 
knife  into  him  the  pickle  ran  out  of  his  body,  like  wine  out 
of  a  claret  bottle,  and  1  ate  at  least  two  pounds  of  the  rascal, 
while  he  flapped  his  tail  in  my  face.  I  never  tasted  such 
salmon  as  that.  Worth  your  while  to  go  to  Scotland,  if  it's 
only  for  the  sake  of  eating  live  pickled  salmon.  I'll  give 
you  a  letter,  any  of  you,  to  my  friend.  He'll  be  d — d  glad 
to  see  you  ;  and  then  you  may  convince  yourselves.  Take 
my  word  for  it,  if  once  you  eat  salmon  that  way,  you  will 
never  want  to  eat  it  any  other." 

We  all  said  we  thought  that  very  likely. 

The  champagne  corks  flew  as  fast  and  as  loud  as  his  shells 
at  Acre  ;  but  we  were  particularly  reserved,  depending  en_ 
tirely  on  his  tongue  for  our  amusement  ;  and,  finding  the 
breeze  of  conversation  l^ginning  to  freshen,  I  artfully  turned 
the  subject  to  Egypt,  by  asking  one  of  my  friends  to  demolish 
a  pyramid  of  jelly,  which  stood  before  him,  and  to  send  some 
of  it  to  the  captain. 

This  was-  enough:  he  began  with  Egypt,  and  went  on  in- 


236  .  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

creasing  in  the  number  and  magnitude  of  his  lies,  in  proportion 
as  we  applauded  them.  A  short-hand  writer  ought  to  have  been 
there,  for  no  human  memory  could  do  justice  to  this  modern 
Munchausen.  "  Talking  of  the  water  of  the  Nile,"  said  he, 
"  I  remember,  when  I  was  first-lieutenapt  of  the  Bellerophon, 
I  went  into  Minorca,  with  only  six  tons  of  water,  and  in 
four  hours  we  had  three  hundred  and  fifty  tons  on  board,  all 
stowed  away.  I  made  all  hands  work.  The  admiral  himself 
was  up  to  the  neck  in  water,  with  the  rest  of  them.  '  D — n 
it,  admiral,'  says  I,  '  no  skulking.'  Well — we  sailed  the  next 
day  ;  and  such  a  gale  of  wind  I  never  saw  in  all  my  life — 
away  went  all  our  masts,  and  we  had  nearly  been  swamped 
with  the  weather  roU.  One  of  the  boats  was  blown  off  the 
booms,  and  went  clean  out  of  sight  before  it  touched  the  water. 
You  may  laugh  at  that,  but  that  was  nothing  to  the  Swallow 
sloop  of  war.  She  was  in  company  with  us  ;  she  wanted  to 
scud  for  it,  but,  by  Jupiter,  she  was  blown  two  miles  up  the 
country — guns,  men,  and  all ;  and  the  next  morning  they 
found  her  flying  jib-boom  had  gone  through  the  church-window, 
and  slap  into  the  cheek  of  the  picture  of  the  Virgin  Mary. 
The  natives  all  swore  it  was  done  on  purpose  by  the  d — d 
heretics.  The  captain  was  forced  to  arm  his  men,  and  march 
them  all  down  to  the  beach,  giving  the  ship  up  to  the  people, 
who  were  so  exasperated  that  they  set  her  on  fire,  and  never 
thought  of  the  powder  which  was  on  board.  All  the  priests 
were  in  their  robes,  singing  some  stuff  or  other  to  purify 
the  church  ;  but  that  was  so  much  time  thrown  away,  for 
in  one  moment  away  went  church,  priests,  pictures,  and  people, 
all  to  the  devil  together." 

Here  he  indulged  himself  in  some  vile  language  and  scur- 
rilous abuse  of  religion  and  its  ministers.  All  priests  were 
hypocritical  scoundrels.  If  he  was  t^be  of  any  religion  at  all, 
he  said,  he  should  prefer  being  a  Roman  Catholic,  "  because, 
then,  you  know,"  added  he,  "  a  man  may  sin  as  much  as  he 
likes,  and  rub  off  as  he  goes,  for  a  few  shillings.  I  got  my 
commission  by  religion,  d u  me.     I  found  ray  old  admiral 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  237 

was  a  psalm-singer  ;  so,  says  I  '  My  old  boy,  I'll  give  you 
enough  of  that,'  so  I  made  the  boatswain  stuff  me  a  hassock, 
and  this  I  carried  with  me  everywhere,  that  I  might  save  my 
trousers,  and  not  hurt  my  knees  ;  so  then  I  turned  to  and 
pi'ayed  all  day  long,  and  kept  the  people  awake  singing  psalms 
all  night.  I  knelt  down  and  prayed  on  the  quarter-deck,  main- 
deck,  and  lower-deck.  I  preached  to  the  men  in  the  tiers,  when 
they  coiled  the  cables,  and  groaned  aloud  and  deep  when  1 
heard  an  oath.  The  thing  took — the  admiral  said  I  was  the 
right  sort,  and  he  made  a  commander  out  of  the  greatest 
atheist  in  the  ship.  No  sooner  did  I  get  hold  of  the  sheepskin 
than  to  the  devil  I  pitched  hassock  and  Bible." 

How  long  he  might  have  gone  on  with  this  farrago,  it  is 
diCBcult  to  say  ;  but  we  were  getting  tired  of  him,  so  we 
passed  the  bottle  till  he  left  off  narrative,  and  took  to  friend- 
ship. 

"  Now,  I  say  (hiccup),  you  Frank,  you  are  a  devilish  good 
fellow  ;  but  that  one-eyed  son  of  a  gun,  I'll  try  him  by  a  court- 
martial,  the  first  time  I  catch  him  drunk  ;  I'll  hang  him  at  the 
yard-arm,  and  you  shall  be  my  first-lieutenant  and  custos-rotto- 
rum,  d — u  me.  Only  you  come  and  tell  me  the  first  time  he 
is  disguised  in  liquor,  and  I'll  settle  him,  d — n  his  cock-eye — 
a  saucy,  Polyphemus-looking  son  of  a  (hiccup)  a  "White- 
chapel  bird-catcher." 

Here  his  recollection  failed  him ;  he  began  to  talk  to  himself, 
and  to  confound  me  with  the  first-lieutenant. 

"  I'll  teach  him  to  wi'ite  to  port-admirals  for  leave — son  of  a 
sea  cook." 

He  was  now  drawing  to  the  finale,  and  began  to  sing, 

"  The  cook  of  the  huflfy  got  drunk, 
Fell  down  the  fore-scuttle, 
And  broke  his  gin  bottle." 

Here  his  head  fell  back,  he  tumbled  off  his  chair,  and  lay 
motionless  on  the  carpet. 

Having  previously  determined  not  to  let  him  be  exposed  in 


238  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

the  streets  in  that  state,  I  had  provided  a  bed  for  him  at  the 
inn  ;  and,  ringing  the  bell,  I  ordered  the  waiter  to'  carry  him 
to  it.  Having  seen  him  safely  deposited,  untied  his  neckcloth, 
took  off  his  boots,  and  raised  his  head  a  little,  we  left  him,  and 
returned  to  the  table,  where  we  finished  our  evening  in  great 
comfort,  but  without  any  other  instance  of  intoxication. 

The  next  morning,  I  waited  on  him.  He  seemed  much 
annoyed  at  seeing  me,  supposing  I  meant,  by  my  presence,  to 
rebuke  him  for  his  intemperance  ;  but  this  was  not  my  inten- 
tion. I  asked  him  how  he  felt ;  and  I  regretted  that  the 
hilarity  of  the  evening  had  been  interrupted  in  so  unfortunate  a 
manner. 

"  How  do  you  mean,  sir  ?  Do  you  mean  to  insinuate  that  I 
was  not  sober  ?" 

"  By  no  means,  sir,"  said  I ;  "  but  are  you  aware,  that  in 
the  midst  of  your  delightful  and  entertaining  conversation,  you 
tumbled  off  your  chair  in  an  epileptic  fit  ? — are  you  subject  to 
these  ?" 

"  Oh,  yes,  my  dear  fellow,  indeed  I  am  ;  but  it  is  so  long 
since  I  last  had  one,  that  I  was  in  hopes  they  had  left  me.  I 
have  invalided  for  them  four  times,  and  just  at  the  very  periods 
when,  if  I  could  have  remained  out,  my  promotion  was 
certain." 

He  then  told"  me  I  might  remain  on  shore  that  day,  if  I 
pleased.  I  gave  him  credit  for  his  happy  instinct  in  taking 
the  hint  of  the  fit ;  and  as  soon  as  I  left  him,  he  arose  and 
went  on  board,  and  flogged  two  men  for  being  drunk  the  night 
before. 

I  did  not  fail  to  report  all  that  had  passpd  to  my  messmates, 
and  we  sailed  a  few  days  afterwards  for  Barbadoes.  On  the 
first  Sunday  of  our  being  at  sea,  the  captain  dined  in  the  gun- 
room with  the  officers.  He  soon  launched  out  into  his  usual  strain 
of  lying  and  boasting,  which  always  irritated  our  doctor,  who 
was  a  sensible  young  Welshman.  On  these  occasions,  he  never 
failed  to  raise  a  laugh  at  the  captain's  expense,  by  throwing  in 
one  or  two  words  at  the  end  of  each  anecdote  :  and  this  he  did 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER,  239 

in  so  grave  and  modest  a  manner,  that  without  a  previous 
knowledge  of  him,  any  one  might  have  supposed  he  was  serious. 
The  captain  renewed  his  story  of  the  corps  of  poodles  to 
extract  the  fuses  from  the  shells.  "  I  hope,"  he  said,  "  to  see 
the  institution  of  such  a  corps  among  ourselves  ;  and  if  I 
w^ere  to  be  the  colonel  of  it,  I  should  soon  have  a  star  on  my 
breast." 

"  That  would  be  the  Dog  Star,"  said  the  doctor,  with 
extreme  gravity. 

"  Thank  you,  doctor,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  not  bad  ;  I  owe 
you  one." 

We  laughed  ;  the  doctor  kept  his  countenance  ;  and  the 
captain  looked  very  grave  ;  but  he  continued  his  lies,  and 
dragged  in,  as  usual,  the  name  of  Sir  Sydney  Smith  to  support 
his  assertions.  "  If  you  doubt  me,  only  ask  Sir  Sydney  Smith; 
he'll  talk  to  you  about  Acre  for  thirty-six  hours  on  a  stretch, 
without  taking  breath  ;  his  cockswain  at  last  got  so  tired  of  it, 
that  he  nicknamed  him  '  Long  Acre.' " 

The  poor  doctor  did  not  come  off  scot  free  ;  the  next  day, 
he  discovered  that  the  deck  leaked  over  his  cabin,  and  the 
water  ran  into  his  bed.  He  began,  w  ith  a  hammer  and  some 
nails,  to  fasten  up  a  piece  of  painted  cauvass,  by  way  of  shelter. 
The  captain  heard  the  noise  of  the  hammer,  and  finding  it 
was  the  doctor,  desired  him.  to  desist.  The  doctor  replied  that 
he  was  only  endeavouring  to  stop  some  leaks  over  his  bed  :  the 
captain  said  they  should  not  be  stopped  ;  for  that  a  bed  of 
leeks  was  a  very  good  bed  for  a  Welshman. 

"  There,  doctor,  now  we  are  quits;  that's  for  your  Dog  Star. 
I  suppose  you  think*  nobody  can  make  a  pun  or  a  pill,  in  the 
ship,  but  yourself." 

"  If  my  pills  were  no  better  than  your  puns,"  muttered  the 
doctor,  "  we  should  all  be  in  a  bad  way." 

The  captain  then  dkected  the  carpenter  not  to  allow  any 
nails  to  the  doctor,  or  the  use  of  any  of  his  tools  ;  he  even  told 
the  poor  surgeon  that  he  did  not  know  how  to  make  a  pill,  and 
that  "  he  was  as  useless  as  a  Navy  Board."     He  accused  him 


240  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

of  ignorance  in  other  parts  of  his  profession  ;  and,  ordering 
all  the  sick  men  on  deck,  rope-ended  them  to  increase  their 
cii-culation,  and  put  a  Uttle  life  into  them. 

Many  a  poor  sick  creature  have  I  seen  receive  a  most  unmer- 
ciful beating.  My  wonder  was  that  the  men  did  not  throw  him 
overboard  ;  and  I  do  really  believe  that  if  it  had  not  been  for 
respect  and  love  to  the  officers,  they  would  have  done  so.  No 
sooner  had  we  got  into  blue  water,  as  he  called  it — that  is,  out 
of  soundings — than  he  began  his  pranks,  which  he  never  ceased 
till  we  reached  Carlisle  Bay.  Officers  and  men  were  all  treated 
alike,  and  there  was  no  redress,  for  no  one  among  us  dared  to 
bring  hirii  to  a  court-martial.  His  constant  maxim  was : 
"  Keep  sailors  at  work,_  and  you  keep  the  devil  out  of  their 
minds — all  hands  all  day-watch,  and  watch  all  night." 

"  No  man,"  said  Jacky,  (the  name  we  gave  him,)  "  eats  the 
bread  of  idleness  on  board  of  my  ship  :  work  keeps  the  scurvy 
out  of  their  bones,  the  lazy  rascals." 

The  officers  and  men,  for  the  first  three  weeks,  never  had  a 
watch  below  during  the  day.  They  were  harassed  and  worn  to 
death,  and  the  most  mutinous  and  discontented  spirit  prevailed 
throughout  the  ship.  One  of  the  best  seamen  said,  in  the  cap- 
tain's hearing,  that  "  since  the  ship  had  been  at  sea,  he  had 
only  had  three  watches  below." 

"  And  if  I  had  known  it,"  said  the  captain,  "  you  should  not 
have  had  that;"  and  turning  the  hands  up,  he  gave  him  four 
dozen. 

Whenever  he  flogged  the  men,  which  he  was  constantly 
doing,  he  never  failed  to  upbraid  them  with  ingratitude,  and 
the  indulgences  which  they  had  received  from  him. 

"  By  G — ,  there  is  no  man-of-war  in  the  service  that  has  so 
much  indulgence.  All  you  have  to  do  is  to  keep  the  ship  clean, 
square  the  yards;  hoist  in  your  provisions,  eat  them;  hoist 
your  grog  in,  drink  it,  and  strike  the  empty  casks  over  the  side: 
but  heaven  itself  would  not  please  such  a  set  of  d — d  fat,  lazy, 
discontented  rascals." 

His  language  to  the  officers  was  beyond  anything  I  ever 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  241 

could  have  supposed  would  have  proceeded  from  the  mouth  of 
a  human  being.  The  master,  one  day,  incurred  his  displeasure, 
and  he  very  flippantly  told  the  poor  man  to  go  to  h — . 

"  I  hope,  sir,"  said  the  master,  "  I  have  as  good  a  chance  of 
going  to  heaven  as  yourself." 

"  You  go  to  heaven  I"  said  the  captain;  "  you  goto  heaven  ! 
Let  me  catch  you  there,  and  I  will  come  and  kick  you 
out." 

This  was,  indeed,  showing  how  far  he  would  have  carried  his 
tyranny  if  he  could.  But  our  feelings  are  relieved  from  any 
violent  shock  at  this  apparent  blasphemy,  when  we  recollect 
that  the  poor  man  was  an  atheist;  and  that  his  idea  of  heaven 
was  that  of  a  little  parlour  at  the  Star  and  Garter,  with  a  good 
fire,  plenty  of  grog,  and  pipes  of  tobacco. 

He  kept  no  table,  nor  did  he  ever  drink  any  wine,  except 
when  he  dined  with  us;  but  got  drunk  every  night,  more  or  less, 
on  the  ship's  spirits,  in  his  own  cabiu.  He  was  always  most 
violent  in  the  evening.  Our  only  revenge  was  laughing  at  his 
monstrous  lies  on  Sunday,  when  he  dined  with  us.  One  night 
his  servant  came  and  told  the  midshipman  of  the  watch,  that 
the  captain  was  lying  dead  drunk  on  the  deck,  in  liis  cabiu. 
This  was  communicated  to  me,  and  I  determined  to  make  the 
best  use  of  it.  I  ran  down  to  the  cabin,  taking  with  me  the 
midshipman  of  the  watch,  the  quarter-master,  and  two  other 
steady  men;  and  having  laid  the  water-drinker  in  his  bed,  I 
noted  down  the  date,  with  all  the  particulars,  together  with  the 
names  of  the  witnesses,  to  be  used  as  soon  as  we  fell  in  with  the 
admiral. 

The  next  day,  I  think  he  had  some  suspicion  of  what  1  had 
done,  and  it  had  nearly  been  fatal  to  me.  It  was  blowing  a 
fresh  tide  wind,  and  the  vessel  rolling  very  deep,  when  he 
ordered  the  boom  to  be  cast  loose  and  re-stowed.  This  was 
nothing  short  of  murder  and  madness  :  but  in  spite  of  every 
remonstrance,  he  persisted,  and  the  consequences  were  terrible. 
The  lashings  were  no  sooner  cast  ofif,  than  a  spare  top-mast  fell 
and  killed  one  of  the  men.     This  was  enough  to  have  completed 

11 


242  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

• 

our  mischief  for  the  day;  but  the  devil  had  not  done  with  us 
yet.  The  booms  were  secured,  and  the  men  were  ordered  to 
rattle  the  rigging  down,  which,  as  the  vessel  continued  to  roll 
heavily,  was  still  more  dangerous,  and,  if  possible  more  useless 
than  the  former  ojDeration.  He  was  warned  of  it,  but  in  vain ; 
and  the  men  had  not  been  aloft  more  than  ten  minutes,  when 
one  of  them  fell  overboard.  Why  I  should  again  have  put  ray 
life  in  jeopardy,  particularly  after  the  warning  of  the  last 
voyage,  I  know  not.  I  was,  perhaps,  vain  of  what  I  could  do 
in  the  water.  I  knew  my  powers;  and  with  the  hope  of  saving 
this  unfortunate  victim  to  the  folly  and  cruelty  of  the  captain, 
I  plunged  after  him  into  the  sea,  feeling,  at  the  same  time,  that 
I  was  almost  committing  an  act  of  suicide.  I  caught  hold  of 
him,  and  for  a  time  supported  him;  and,  had  the  commonest 
diligence  and  seamanship  been  shown,  I  should  have  saved  him. 
But  the  captain,  it  appeared,  when  he  found  I  was  overboard, 
was  resolved  to  get  rid  of  me,  in  order  to  save  himself:  he 
made  use  of  every  difficulty  to  prevent  the  boat  coming  to  me. 
The  poor  man  was  exhausted  :  I  kept  myself  disengaged  from 
him,  when  swimming  round  him;  supported  him  occasionally 
whenever  he  was  sinking;  but,  finding  at  last  that  he  was  irre- 
coverably gone — for  though  I  had  a  firm  hold  of  him,  he  was 
going  lower  and  lower — and,  looking  up,  perceiving  I  was  so 
deep  that  the  water  was  dark  over  my  head,  I  clapped  my 
knees  on  his  shoulders,  and,  giving  myself  a  little  impetus  from 
the  resistance,  rose  to  the  surface.  So  much  was  I  exhausted, 
that  I  could  not  have  floated  half  a  minute  more,  when  the  lioat 
came  and  picked  me  up. 

The  delay  in  heaving  the  ship  to,  I  attributed  to  the  scene  I 
had  witnessed  the  night  before;  and  in  this  I  was  confirmed  by 
the  testimony  of  the  officers.  Having  lost  two  men  by  his  un- 
seamanlike  conduct,  he  would  have  added  deliberate  murder  of 
a  third  to  save  himself  from  the  punishment  which  he  knew 
awaited  him.  He  continued  the  same  tyrannical  conduct,  and 
I  had  resolved,  the  moment  we  fell  in  with  the  admiral,  to 
write  for  a  court-martial  on  this  man,  let  the  consequences  be 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFirER.  243 

what  they  miglit ;  I  thouglit  I  should  serve  my  country  and  the 
navy  by  ridding  it  of  such  a  monster. 

Several  of  the  officers  were  under  arrest,  and,  notwithstand- 
ing the  heat  of  their  cabins  in  that  warm  climate,  were  kept 
constantly  confined  to  them  with  a  sentinel  at  the  door.  In 
consequence  of  this  cruel  treatment,  one  of  the  officers  became 
deranged.  We  made  Barbadocs,  and  running  round  Needhara's 
Point  into  Carlisle  Bay,  we  saw,  to  our  mortification,  that 
neither  the  admiral  nor  any  ship  of  war  was  there;  consequently 
our  captain  was  commanding  officer  in  the  port.  Upon  this  he 
became  remarkably  amiable,  supposing,  if  the  evil  day  was  put 
oflP,  it  would  be  dispensed  with  altogether;  he  treated  me  with 
particular  attention,  hoped  we  should  have  some  fun  ashore;  as 
the  admifial  was  not  come  in,  we  should  wait  for  him;  tired  of 
kicking  about  at  sea,  he  should  take  all  his  'duds  with  him,  and 
bring  himself  to  an  anchor  on  shore,  and  not  come  afloat  again 
till  we  saluted  his  flag. 

Neither  the  first-lieutenant  or  myself  believed  one  word  of 
this  :  indeed,  we  always  acted  upon  the  exact  reverse  of  wliat 
he  said  ;  and  it  was  well  we  did  so  in  this  instance.  After  we 
had  anchored,  he  went  ashore,  and  in  about  an  hour  returned, 
and  stated  that  the  admiral  was  not  expected  till  next  month  ; 
that  be  should,  therefore,  go  and  take  up  his  quarters  at  Jemmy 
Cavan's,  and  not  trouble  the  ship  any  more  till  the  admiral 
arrived  ;  he  then  left  us,  taking  his  trunk  and  all  his  dirty  linen, 
and  dirty  enough  it  was. 

Some  of  the  officers  unfortunately  believed  that  we  were  to 
remain,  and  followed  the  captain's  example  by  sending  their 
linen  on  shore  to  be  washed.  Skysail  was  firm,  and  so  was  I  ; 
the  lieutenant  cocked  his  eye,  and  said,  "  Messmate,  depend  on 
it  there  is  something  in  the  wind.  I  have  sent  one  shirt  on 
shore  to  be  washed  ;  and  when  that  comes  off  I  will  send 
another  :  if  I  lose  that  it  is  no  great  matter." 

That  night,  at  ten  o'clock.  Captain  Jacky  came  on  board, 
bringing  his  trunk  and  dirty  linen,  tui'ned  the  hands  up,  up 
anchor,  and  ran  out  of  Carlisle  Bav  and  went  to  sea,  leaving 


244  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

most  of  the  officers'  linen  on  shore.  This  was  one  of  his  tricks. 
He  had  received  his  orders  when  he  landed  in  the  morning  ; 
they  were  ^vaiting  for  him,  and  his  coming  on  board  for  his 
things,  was  only  a  ruse  to  throw  us  off  our  guard,  and  I  suppose 
compel  us,  by  the  loss  of  our  clothes,  to  be  as  dirty  in  appear- 
ance as  he  was  himself,  "  but  he  always  liked  to  make  his  offi- 
cers comfortable." 

We  arrived  at  Nassau,  in  New  Providence,  without  any 
remarkable  incident,  although  the  service  continued  to  be  car- 
ried on  in  the  same  disagreeable  manner  as  ever.  I  continued, 
however,  to  get  leave  to  go  on  shore  ;  and  finding  no  prospect 
of  bringing  the  captain  to  justice,  determined  to  quit  tlie  ship 
if  possible.  This  was  effected  by  accident,  otherwise  I  should 
have  been  much  puzzled  to  have  got  clear  of  her.  I  fell 
between  the  boat  and  the  wharf  as  I  landed,  and  by  the  sudden 
jerk  ruptured  a  small  blood-vessel  in  my  chest  ;  it  was  not  of 
great  importance  in  itself,  but  in  that  climate  required  care,  and 
I  made  the  most  of  it.  They  would  have  carried  me  on  board 
again,  but  I  begged  to  be  taken  to  the  hotel.  The  surgeon  of 
the  regiment  doing  duty  there  attended  me,  and  I  requested 
him  to  make  my  case  as  bad  as  possible.  The  captain  came  to 
see  me — I  appeared  very  ill — his  compassion  was  like  that  of 
the  inquisitor  of  the  holy  office,  who  cures  his  victim  in  order  to 
enable  him  to  go  through  farther  torments.  His  time  of  sail- 
ing arrived,  and  I  was  reported  to  be  too  ill  to  be  removed. 
Determined  to  have  me,  he  prolonged  his  stay.  I  got  better  ; 
the  surgeon's  report  was  more  favourable  ;  but  I  was  still 
unwilling  to  go  on  board.  The  captain  sent  me  an  affection- 
ate message,  to  say  that  if  I  did  not  come,  he  would  send  a  file 
of  marines  to  bring  me  ;  he  even  came  himself  and  threatened 
me  ;  when,  finding  there  was  no  witnesses  in  the  room,  I  plainly 
told  him,  that  if  he  persisted  in  having  me  on  board,  it  would 
be  to  his  own  destruction,  for.  that  I  was  fully  determined  to 
bring  him  to  a  court-martial  for  drunkenness  and  unofficerlike 
conduct,  the  moment  we  joined  the  admiral.  I  told  him  of  the 
state  In  which  I  had  found  him.     I  recapitulated  his  blasphe- 


THE    NATAL    OFFICER.  245 

pheniies,  and  liis  lubberly  conduct  in  losing  the  two  men  ;  he 
stared  and  endeavoured  to  explain  ;  I  was  peremptory,  and  he 
whined  and  gave  in,  seeing  he  was  in  my  power. 

"  Well,  then,  my  dear  fellow,"  said  Jacky,  "  since  you  are  so 
very  ill — sorry  as  I  shall  be  to  lose  you — I  must  consent  to 
your  staying  behind.  I  shall  find  it  difficult  to  replace  you  : 
but  as  the  comfort  and  happiness  of  my  officers  is  my  first 
object  on  all  occasions,  I  will  prefer  annoying  myself  to  annoy- 
ing you."  So  saying,  he  held  out  his  hand  to  me,  which  I 
shook  with  a  hearty  good-will,  sincerely  hoping  that  we  might 
never  meet  again,  either  in  this  world  or  the  next. 

He  was  afterwards  brought  to  a  court-martial,  for  repeated 
acts  of  drunkenness  and  cruelty,  and  was  finally  dismissed  the 
service. 

In  giving  this  detail  of  Captain  G 's  peculiarities,  let  it 

not  be  imagined,  that  even  at  that  period  such  characters  were 
common  in  the  service.  I  have  already  said  that  he  was 
unique.  Impressment  and  the  want  of  officers  at  the  early  part 
of  the  war,  gave  him  aji  opportunity  of  becoming  a  lieutenant  ; 
he  took  the  weak  side  of  the  admiral  to  obtain  his  next  step, 
and  obtained  the  command  of  a  sloop,  from  repeated  solicita- 
tion at  the  Admiralty,  and  by  urging  his  claims  of  long  servi- 
tude. The  service  had  received  serious  injury  by  admitting 
men  on  the  quarter-deck  from  before  the  mast  ;  it  occasioned 
there  being  two  classes  of  officers  in  the  navy — namely,  those 
who  had  rank  and  connexions,  and  those  who  had  entered  by 
the  "  hawse-holes,"  as  they  were  described.  The  first  were 
favoured  when  young,  and  did  not  acquire  a  competent  know- 
ledge of  their  duty  ;  the  second,  with  few  exceptions,  as  they 
advanced  in  their  grades,  proved,  from  want  of  education,  more 
and  more  unfit  for  their  stations.  These  defects  have  now  been 
remedied  ;  and  as  all  young  men  who  enter  the  service  must 
have  a  regular  education,  and,  consequently,  be  the  sons  of  gen- 
tlemen, a  level  has  been  produced,  which,  to  a  certain  degree, 
precludes  favouritism,  and  perfectly  bars  the  entrance  to  such 
men  as  Captain  G . 


246  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

After  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  when  England  and  Europe 
were  indebted  for  their  safety  to  the  British  fleet,  the  navy 
became  more  popular,  and  the  aristocracy  crowded  into  it. 
This  forwarded  still  more  the  melioration  of  the  service,  and 
under  the  succeeding  naval  administration,  silent,  certain,  and 
gradual  improvements,  both  in  men,  officers,  and  ships,  took 
place.  Subsequently,  the  navy  has  been  still  more  fortunate, 
in  having  an  officer  called  to  its  councils,  whose  active  and  con- 
stant employment  at  sea,  previous  to  the  peace  of  Paris,  had 
given  him  a  thorough  insight  into  its  wants  and  abuses. 
Unconnected  with  party,  and  unawed  by  power,  he  has  dared 
to  do  his  duty  ;  and  it  is  highly  to  the  credit  of  the  first  lord, 
who  has  so  long  presided  at  the  board,  that  the  suggestions  of 
this  officer  have  met  with  due  consideration  ;  I  can,  therefore, 
assure  my  reader,  that  as  long  as  his  advice  is  attended  to,  he 
need  be  afraid  of  meeting  with  no  more  Captain  G s. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

There  she  goes,  brimful  of  anger  and  jealousy.     Mercy  on  the  poor  man  I 

Jealous  Wifb. 

The  dreadful  fish  that  hath  deserved  the  name 

Of  death. 

Spenser. 

As  the  brig  moved  out  of  the  harbour  of  Nassau,  I  moved  out 
of  bed  ;  and  as  she  set  her  royals  and  made  sail,  I  put  on  my 
hat  and  walked  out.  The  officers  of  the  regiment  quartered 
there,  kindly  invited  me  to  join  their  mess  ;  and  the  colonel 
enhanced  the  value  of  the  offer  by  assigning  for  me  good  apart- 
ments in  the  barracks.  I  was  instantly  removed  to  clean  and 
comfortable  lodgings.  I  soon  regained  my  strength,  and  was 
able  to  sit  at  the  table,  wliere  I  Couud  thirty-five  young  officers, 
living  for  the  day,  careless  of  the  morrow,  and  beyond  that 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  241 

never  bestowing  a  thought.  It  is  a  singular  fact,  that  where 
lilc  is  most  precious,  men  are  .most  indifferent  about  its  preser- 
vation ;  and,  where  death  is  constantly  before  our  eyes,  as  in 
this  country,  eternity  is  seldom  iu  our  thoughts  ;  but  so  it  is  ; 
and  the  rule  extends  still  farther  in  despotic  countries.  When 
the  union  between  the  head  and  shoulders  may  be  dissolved  in 
a  moment  by  the  sword  of  a  tyrant,  life  is  not  so  valued,  and 
death  loses  its  terrors  ;  hence  the  apathy  and  indifference  with 
which  men  view  their  executioners  in  that  state  of  society.  It 
seems  as  if  existence,  like  estates,  was  valuable  iu  proportion 
to  the  validity  of  the  title-deeds  by  which  they  are  held. 

To  digress  no  more.  Although  I  was  far  from  being  even 
commonly  virtuous,  which  is  about  tantamount  to  absolute 
wickedness,  I  was  no  longer  the  thoughtless  mortal  I  had  ever 
been  since  I  left  school.  The  society  of  Emily,  and  her  image 
graven  on  my  heart  ;  the  close  confinement  to  the  brig,  and  the 
narrow  escape  from  death  iu  the  second  attempt  to  save  the 
poor  sailor's  life,  had  altogether  contributed  their  share  to  a 
kind  of  temporary  rcfonnaiion,  if  not  to  a  disgust  of  tlie  coarser 
descriptions  of  vice.  The  lecture  I  had  received  from  Emily  ou 
deceit,  and  the  detestable  conduct  of  my  last  captain,  had,  as  I 
thought,  almost  completed  my  reformation.  Hitherto  I  felt  I 
had  acted  wrong,  without  having  the  power  to  act  right.  I  for- 
got that  I  had  never  made  the  experiment.     The  declaration  of 

Captain  G 's  atlieism  was  so  far  from  converting  me,  that 

from  that  moment  I  thought  more  seriously  than  ever  of  reli- 
gion. So  great  was  my  contempt  for  his  character,  that  I  knew 
whatever  he.  said  must  be  wrong,  and,  like  the  Spartan  drunken 
slave,  he  gave  me  the  greatest  horror  of  vice. 

Such  was  my  reasoning,  and  such  my  sentiments,  previous  to 
any  relapse  into  sin  or  folly.  I  knew  its  heinousness.  I  trans- 
gressed and  I'epent^d  ;  habit  was  all-powerful  in  me  ;  and 
the  only  firm  support  I  could  have  looked  to  for  assistance  was, 
unfortunately,  very  superficially  attended  to.  Religion,  for  any 
good  purposes,  was  scarcely  in  my  thoughts.  My  system  was 
a  sort  of  .'^ocratic  heathen  philosophy — a  moral  code,  calculated 


248  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

to  take  a  man  tolerably  safe  tbrough  a  quiet  world,  but  not 
to  extricate  him  from  a  labyrintli  of  long-practised  ini- 
quity. 

The  thoughtless  and  vicious  conduct  of  my  companions  be- 
came to  me  a  source  of  serious  reflection.  Far  from  following 
tlieir  example,  I  felt  myself  some  degrees  better  than  they  were ; 
and  in  the  pride  of  my  heart  thanked  God  that  I  was  not  like 
these  publicans.  My  pharisaical  arrogance  Concealed  from  me 
the  mortifying  fact  that  I  was  much  worse,  and  with  very  slight 
nopes  of  amendment.  Humility  had  not  yet  entered  my  mind  ; 
out  it  was  the  only  basis  on  which  any  religious  improvement 
could  be  erected — the  only  chance  of  being  saved.  I  rather 
became  refined  in  vice,  without  quitting  it.  Gross  and  sensual 
gratification,  so  easily  obtained  in  the  West  Indies,  was  dis- 
gustiug  to  me  ;  yet  I  scrupled  not  to  attempt  the  seduction  of 
innocence,  rather  more  gratified  in  the  pursuit  than  in  the 
enjoyment,  which  soon  palled,  and  drove  me  after  other  objects, 

I  had,  however,  little  occasion  to  exert  my  tact  in  this  art  in 
the  Bahama  Islands,  where,  as  in  all  the  other  islands  of  the 
West  Indies,  there  is  a  class  of  women,  born  of  white  fathers 
and  mustee  or  mulatto  women,  nearly  approaching  in  complex- 
ion to  the  European  ;  many  of  them  are  brunettes,  with  long 
black  hair,  very  pretty,  good  eyes,  and  often  elegant  figures. 
These  ladies  are  too  proud  of  the  European  blood  in  their  veins 
to  form  an  alliance  with  any  male  who  has  a  suspicion  of  black 
in  his  genealogical  table  ;  consequently  they  seldom  are  married 
unless  fromlntercsted  motives,  when,  having  acquired  large  pro- 
perty by  will,  they  are  sought  in  wedU^ck  by  the  white  set- 
tlers. 

So  circumstanced,  these  girls  prefer  an  intercourse  with  the 
object  of  their  choice  to  a  legal  marriage  with  a  person  of  inferior 
birth  ;  and  having  once  made  their  selection,  an  act  of  infidelity 
is  of  rare  occurrence  among  them.  Their  afiection  and  con- 
stancy will  stand  the  test  pf  time  and  of  long  separation  ;  gener- 
ous to  prodigality,  but  jealous,  and  irrital)le  in  their  jealousy, 
even  to  the  use  of  the  daggcn'  and  poison. 


THE    XAVAI-    OFFICER.  249 

Oue  of  these  young  ladies  found  sufficient  allurement  in  my 
personal  charms  to  surrender  at  discretion,  and  we  lived  in  that 
sort  of  familiar  intercourse,  which,  in  the  "West  Indies,  is  looked 
upon  as  a  matter  of  necessity  between  the  parties,  and  of  indif- 
ference by  every  one  else.  I  lived  on  in  this  Epicurean  style 
for  months  ;  until,  most  unfortunately,  my  chere  amie  found  a 
rival  in  the  daughter  of  an  officer,  high  in  rank,  on  the  island. 
Smitten  with  my  person,  this  fair  oue  had  not  the  prudence  to 
conceal  her  partiaUty  ;  my  vanity  was  too  much  flattered  not 
to  take  advantage  of  her  sentiments  in  my  favour  ;  and,  as 
usual,  flirtation  and  philandering  occupied  most  of  my  morn- 
ings, and  sometimes  my  evenings,  in  the  company  of  this  fair 
American. 

Scandal  is  a  goddess  who  reigns  paramount,  not  only  in 
Great  Britain,  but  also  in  all  his  majesty's  plantations  ;  and  her 
votaries  very  soon  selected  me  as  the  target  of  their  archery. 
My  pretty  Carlotta  became  jealous  ;  she  taxed  me  with  incon- 
stancy. I  denied  the  charge  ;  and  as  a  proof  of  my  innocence, 
she  obtained  from  me  a  promise  that  I  should  go  no  more  to  the 
house  of  her  rival  ;  but  this  promise  I  took  very  good  care  to 
evade,  and  to  break.  For  a  whole  fortnight  my  domestic  peace 
was  interrupted  either  by  tears,  or  by  the  most  voluble  and  out- 
rageous solos,  for  I  never  replied  after  the  first  day. 

A  little  female  slave,  one  morning,  made  me  a  signal  to  fol- 
low her  to  a  retired  part  of  the  garden.  I  had  shown  this  poor 
little  creature  some  acts  of  kindness,  for  which  she  amply  repaid 
me.  Sometimes  I  had  obtained  for  her  a  holiday — sometimes 
saved  her  a  whipping,  and  at  others  had  given  her  a  trifle  of 
money  ;  she  therefore  became  exceedingly  attached  to  me,  and 
as  she  saw  her  mistress's  auger  daily  increase,  she  knew  what  it 
would  probably  end  in,  and  watched  my  safety  like  a  little  guar- 
dian sylph. 

"  No  drinkee  coffee,  massa,"  said  she  ;  "  missy  putty  obeah 
stuff  in." 

As  soon  as  she  had  said  this,  she  disappeared,  and  I  went 
into  the  house,  where  I  found  Carlotta  preparing  the  breakfast; 


250  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

she  had  an  old  woman  with  her,  who  seemed  to  be  doing  some- 
thing which  she  was  not  very  willing  I  should  see.  I  sat  down 
carelessly,  humming  a  tune,  with  my  face  to  a  mirror,  and  my 
back  to  Carlotta,  so  that  I  was  able  to  watch  her  motions  with- 
out her  perceiving  it.  She  was  standing  near  the  fire-place,  the 
coffee  was  by  her,  on  the  table,  and  the  old  woman  crouched  in 
the  chimney  corner,  with  her  bleared  eyes  fixed  on  the  embers. 
Carlotta  seemed  in  doubt  ;  she  pressed  her  hands  forcibly  on 
her  forehead,  took  up  the  coffee-pot  to  pour  me  out  a  cup,  then 
set  it  down  again  ;  the  old  woman  muttered  something  in  their 
language  ;  Carlotta  stamped  with  her  little  foot,  and  poured 
out  the  coffee.  She  brought  it  to  me — trembled  as  she  placed 
it  before  me — seemed  unwilling  to  let  go  her  hold,  and  her  hand 
still  grasped  the  cup,  as  if  she  would  take  it  away  again.  The 
old  woman  growled  and  muttered  something,  in  which  I  could 
only  hear  the  name  of  her  rival  mentioned.  This  was  enough  ; 
the  eyes  of  Carlotta  lighted  up  like  a  flame  ;  she  quitted  her 
hold  of  the  salver,  retreated  to  the  fireplace,  sat  herself  down, 
covered  her  face,  and  left  me,  as  she  supposed,  to  make  my  last 
earthly  repast. 

"  Carlotta,"  said  I,  with  a  sudden  and  vehement  exclamation. 
She  started  up,  and  the  blood  rushed  to  her  face  and  neck,  in  a 
profusion  of  blushes,  which  are  perfectly  visible  through  the 
skins  of  these  mulattoes.  "  Carlotta,"  I  repeated,  "  I  had  a 
dream  last  night,  and  who  do  you  think  came  to  me  ?  It  was 
Obeah  1  (She  started  at  the  name.)  He  told  me  not  to 
drink  coftee  this  morning,  but  to  make  the  old  woman  drink 
it."  At  these  words  the  beldame  sprang  up.  "  Come  here, 
you  old  hag,"  said  1.  She  approached  trembling,  for  she  saw 
that  escape  from  me  was  impossible,  and  that  her  guilt  was 
detected.  I  seized  a  sharp  knife,  and  taking  her  by  her  few 
remaining  grey  and  woolly  hairs,  said,  "  Obeah's  work  must  be 
done  ;  I  do  not  order  it,  but  he  commands  it  ;  drink  that  coffee 
instantly." 

So  powerful  was  the  name  of  Obeah  on  the  ear  of  the  hag, 
that  she  dreaded  it  more  than  my  brandished  knife.    She  never 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  251 

thought  of  imploring  mercy,  for  she  supposed  it  was  useless 
after  the  discovery,  and  that  her  hour  was  come ;  she  therefore 
lifted  the  cup  to  her  withered  lip,  and  was  just  going  to  fulfil 
her  destiny  and  to  drink,  when  I  dashed  it  out  of  her  hand,  and 
broke  it  iu  a  thousand  pieces  ou  the  floor,  darting,  at  the  same 
time,  a  fierce  look  at  Carlotta,  who  threw  herself  at  my  feet, 
which  she  fervently  kissed  iu  an  agony  of  conflicting  passions. 

"  Kill  me  !  kill  me  !"  ejaculated  she  ;  "  it  was  I  that  did  it. 
Obeah  is  great — he  has  saved  you.  Kill  me,  and  I  shall  die 
happy,  now  you  are  safe — do  kill  me  !" 

I  listened  to  ihese  frantic  exclamations  with  perfect  calmness. 
When  she  was  a  little  more  composed,  I  desired  her  to  rise. 
She  obeyed,  and  looked  the  image  of  despair,  for  she  thought  I 
would  immediately  quit  her  for  the  arms  of  her  more  fortunate 
rival,  and  she  considered  my  innocence  as  fully  established  by 
the  appearance  of  the  deity. 

"  Carlotta,"  said  I,  "  what  would  you  have  done  if  you  had 
succeeded  in  killing  me  1" 

"  I  will  show  you,"  said  she  ;  when,  going  to  a  closet,  she 
took  out  another  basin  of  coffee  ;  and,  before  I  could  dash  it 
from  her  lips,  as  I  had  the  former  one  from  the  black  woman, 
the  infatuated  girl  had  swallowed  a  small  portion  of  it. 

"What  else  can  I  do?"  said  she  ;  "my  happiness  is  gone 
forever." 

"  Xo,  Carlotta,"  said  I  ;  "I  do  not  wish  for  your  death, 
though  you  have  plotted  mine.  I  have  been  faithful  to  you, 
and  loved  you,  until  you  made  this  attempt." 

"Will  you  forgive  me  before  I  die?"  said  she  ;  "for  die  I 
umst,  now  that  I  know  you  will  quit  me."  Uttering  these 
words,  she  threw  herself  on  the  floor  with  violence,  and  her 
head  coming  iu  contact  with  the  broken  fragments  of  the  basin, 
she  cut  herself,  and  bled  so  copiously  that  she  fainted.  The  old 
woman  had  fled,  aud  I  was  left  alone  with  her,  for  poor  little 
Sophy  was  frightened,  and  had  hidden  herself. 

I  lifted  Carlotta  from  the  floor,  and,  placing  her  in  a  chair,  I 
washed  her  face  with  cold  water  :  aud  having  staunched  the 


252  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

blood,  I  laid  her  on  her  bed,  when  she  began  to  breathe  and  to 
sob  convulsively.  I  sat  myself  by  her  side,  and  as  I  contem- 
plated her  pale  face  and  witnessed  her  grief,  I  fell  into  a  train 
of  melancholy  retrospection  on  ray  numerous  acts  of  vice  and 
folly. 

"  How  many  warnings,"  said  I,  "  how  many  lessons  am  I  to 
receive  before  I  shall  reform  ?  How  narrowly  have  I  escaped 
being  sent  to  my  account  '  uuannealed '  and  unprepared  ! 
What  must  have  been  my  situation  if  I  had  at  this  moment 
been  called  into  the  presence  of  my  offended  Creator  ?  This 
poor  girl  is  pure  and  innocent,  compared  with  me,  taking  into 
consideration  the  advantages  of  education  on  my  side,  and  the 
want  of  it  on  hers.  What  has  produced  all  this  misery  and  the 
dreadful  consequences  which  might  have  ensued,  but  my  folly  in 
trifling  with  the  feelings  of  an  innocent  girl,  and  winning  her 
affections  merely  to  gratify  my  own  vanity  ;  at  the  same  time 
that  I  have  formed  a  connexion  with  this  unhappy  creature,  the 
breaking  of  which  will  never  cause  me  one  hour's  regret,  while 
it  will  leave  her  in  misery,  and  will,  in  all  probability,  embitter 
all  her  future  existence  ?  What  shall  I  do  ?  Forgive,  as  I 
hope  to  be  forgiven  ;  the  fault  was  more  mine  than  hers." 

I  then  knelt  down,  and  most  fervently  repeated  the  Lord's 
Prayer,  adding  some  words  of  thanksgiving  for  my  undeserved 
esca{)e  from  death,  I  rose  up,  and  kissed  her  cold,  damp  fore- 
head ;  she  Avas  sensible  of  my  kindness,  and  her  poor  head  found 
relief  in.  a  flood  of  tears.  Her  eyes  again  gazed  on  me,  spark 
ling  with  gratitude  and  love,  after  all  she  had  gone  through.  I 
endoav(Jured  to  compose  her  ;  the  loss  of  blood  had  produced 
the  best  effects  ;  and,  having  succeeded  in  calming  her  conflict- 
ing passions,  she  fell  into  a  sound  sleep. 

The  reader  who  knows  the  West  Indies,  or  knows  human 
nature,  will  not  be  surprised  that  I  should  have  continued  this 
coniK'ction  as  long  as  1  remained  on  the  island.  From  the  art- 
less manner  in  which  Carlotta  had  conducted  her  plot ;  from 
her  gestures  and  her  agitation,  I  was  quite  sure  that  she  was  a 
novice  in  this  sort  of  crime,  and  that  should  she  ever  relapse 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  253 

into  her  paroxysm  of  jealousy,  I  should  be  able  to  detect  any 
farther  attempt  on  my  life.  Of  this,  however,  I  had  no  fears, 
having  by  degrees  discontinued  my  visits  to  the  young  lady  who 
had  been  the  cause  of  our  fracas  ;  and  I  never  afterwards,  while 
on  the  island,  gave  Carlotta  the  slightest  reason  to  suspect  my 
constancy.  I  was  much  censured  for  my  conduct  to  the  young 
lady,  as  the  attentions  I  had  shown  her,  and  her  marked  prefer- 
ence for  me,  had  driven  away  suitors  who  really  were  in  earnest, 
and  they  never  returned  to  her  again. 

In  these  islands  the  naturalist  would  find  a  vast  store  to 
reward  investigation  ;  they  abound  with  a  variety  of  plants, 
birds,  fish,  shells,  and  minerals.  It  was  here  that  Columbus 
made  his  first  landing,  but  in  which  of  the  islands  I  am  not 
exactly  certain  ;  though  I  am  very  sure  he  did  not  find  them 
quite  so  agreeable  as  I  did,  for  he  very  soon  quitted  them,  and 
steered  away  for  St.  Domingo. 

It  is  not,  perhaps,  generally  known,  that  Xew  Providence 
was  the  island  selected  for  his  residence  by  BJackbeard,  the 
famous  pirate  ;  the  citadel  that  stands  on  the  hill  above  the 
town  of  Nassau,  is  built  on  the  site  of  the  fortress  which 
contained  the  treasure  of  that  famous  freebooter.  A  curious 
circumstance  occurred  during  my  stay  on  this  island,  and 
which,  beyond  all  doubt,  was  connected  with  the  adventures  of 
those  extraordinary  people,  known  by  the  appellation  of.  bucca- 
neers. Some  workmen  were  digging  near  the  foot  of  the  hill 
under  the  fort,  when  they  discovered  some  quicksilver,  and 
on  inspection,  a  very  considerable  quantity  was  found  ;  it  had 
evidently  been  a  part  of  the  plunder  of  the  pirates,  buried  in 
casks  or  skins,  and  these  having  decayed,  the  liquid  ore  natu- 
rally escaped  down  the  hill. 

Though  not  indifferent  to  the  pleasures  of  the  table,  I  was  far 
from  resigning  myself  to  the  Circean  life  led  by  the  generality 
of  young  military  men  in  the  Bahamas. 

The  education  which  I  had  received,  and  which  placed  me  far 
above  the  common  run  of  society  in  the  colonies,  induced  me  to 
seek  for  a  companion  whose  mind  had   received  equal  culti- 


254  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OK, 

vation  ;    aud  such  a  oue  I  found   in  Charles ,  a   youug 

lieutenant   in  the regiment,  quartered   at   Nassau.     Our 

intimacy  became  the  closer,  in  proportion  as  we  discovered  the 
sottish  habits  and  ignorance  of  those  around  us.  We  usually 
spent  our  mornings  in  reading  the  classic  authors,  with  which 
we  were  both  familiar  ;  we  spouted  our  Latin  verses  ;  we 
fenced  ;  and  we  amused  ourselves,  occasionally,  with  a  game  of 
biUiards,  but  never  ventured  our  friendship  on  a  stake  for 
money.  When  the  heat  of  the  day  had  passed  off,  we  strolled 
out,  paid  a  few  visits,  or  rambled  over  the  island  ;  keeping  as 
much  aloof  from  the  barracks  as  possible,  where  the  manner  of  ' 
living  was  so  very  uncongenial  to  our  notions.  The  ofl&cers 
began  their  day  about  noon,  when  they  sat  down  to  breakfast ; 
after  that,  they  separated  to  their  different  quarters,  to  read 
the  novels  with  which  the  presses  of  England  and  Franee  inun- 
dated these  islands,  to  the  great  deterioration  of  morals.  These 
books,  which  they  read  lounging  on  their  backs,  or  laid  beside 
them  and  fell  asleep  over,  occupied  the  hottest  part  of  the  day  ; 
the  remainder,  till  the  hour  of  dinner  arrived,  was  consumed  iu 
visiting  and  gossiping,  or  in  riding,  to  procure  an  appetite 
for  dinner.  Till  four  in  the  morning,  their  time  was  wholly 
devoted  to  smoking  and  drinking  ;  their  beds  received  them  iu 
a  state  of  intoxication,  more  or  less  ;  parade,  at  nine  o'clock, 
forced  them  out  with  a  burning  brain  and  parched  tongue  : 
they  rushed  into  the  sea,  and  found  some  refreshment  in  the 
cool  water,  which  enabled  them  to  stand  upright  in  front  of 
their  men  ;  the  formal  duty  over,  they  retired  again  to  their 
beds,  where  they  lay  till  noon,  aud  then  to  breakfast. 

Such  were  their  days  ;  can  it  be  wondered  at  that  our 
islands  are  fatal  to  the  constitution  of  Europeans,  when  this  is 
their  manner  of  life  in  a  climate  always  disposed  to  take  advan- 
tage of- any  excess  ?  The  men  too  readily  followed  the  example 
of  their  officers,  and  died  off"  in  the  same  rapid  manner  ;  one  of 
the  most  regular  employments  of  the  morning,  was  to  dig 
graves  for  the  victims  of  the  night.  Four  or  five  of  these 
receptacles  was  thought  a  moderate  number.     Such  was  the 


THK    XAVAl.    OKKICER.  255 

fatal  apathy  iu  whicli  these  officers  existed,  that  the  approach, 
nay,  even  the  certainty  of  death,  gave  them  no  apparent  con- 
cern, caused  no  preparation,  excited  no  serious  reflection. 
They  followed  the  corpse  of  a  brother  officer  to  the  grave  in 
military  j)rocession.  These  ceremonies  were  always  conducted 
in  the  evening,  and  often  have  I  seen  these  thoughtless  young- 
men  throwing  stones  at  the  lanthorns  w'hich  were  carried  before 
them  to  light  them  to  the  burying-ground. 

I  was  always  an  early  riser,  and  believe  I  owe  much  of  my 
good  health  to  this  custom.  I  used  to  delight  in  a  lovely 
tropical  morning,  when,  with  a  segar  in  my  mouth,  I  walked 
into  the  market.  What  would  Sir  William  Curtis,  or  Sir 
Charles  Flower  have  said,  could  they  have  seen,  as  I  did, 
the  numbers  of  luxurious  turtle  lying  on  their  backs,  and  dis- 
playing their  rich  calapce  to  the  epicurean  purchaser  ?  Well, 
indeed,  might  the  shade  of  Apicius*  lament  that  America  and 
turtle  were  not  discovered  in  his  days.  There  were  the  guanas, 
too,  in  abundance,  with  their  mouths  sewed  up  to  prevent  their 
biting  ;  these  are  excellent  food,  although  bearing  so  near  a 
resemblance  to  the  alligator,  and  its  diminutive  European  repre- 
sentative, the  harmless  lizard.  Muscovy  ducks,  parrots,  mon- 
keys, pigeons,  and  fish.  Pine-apples  abounded,  oranges,  pome- 
granates, limes,  bavarias,  plantains,  love  apples,  Abbogada 
pears  (better  known  by  the  name  of  subaltern's  butter),  and 
many  other  fruits,  all  piled  in  heaps,  were  to  be  had  at  a  low 
price.     Such  was  the  stock  of  a  New  Providence  market. 

Of  the  human  species,  buyers  and  venders,  there  were  black, 
brown,  and  fair  :  from  the  fairest  skin,  with  light  blue  eyes, 
and  flaxen  hair,  to  the  jet  black  "  Day  and  Martin"  of  Ethiopia; 
from  the  loveliest  form  of  Nature's  mould,  to  the  disgusting 
squaw,  whose  flaccid  mammaj  hang  like  inverted  bottles  to  her 
girdle,  or  are  extended  over  her  shoulder  to  give  nourishment  to 
the  little  imp  perched  on  her  back;  and  here  the  urchin  sits  the 
live-long  day,  while  the  mother  performs  all  the  drudgery  of  the 
field,  the  house,  or  tlie  market. 

♦  Lyttloton'a  Dialogues  of  the  Dead. 


256  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

The  confusion  of  Babel  did  not  surpass  the  present  gabble  of 
a  West  India  market.  The  loud  and  everlasting  chatter  of  the 
black  women,  old  and  young  (for  black  ladies  can  talk  as  well 
as  white  ones) ;  the  screams  of  children,  parrots,  and  monkeys  ; 
black  boys  and  girls,  clad  a  la  Venus,  white  teeth,  red  lips, 
black  skins,  and  elephant  legs,  formed  altogether  a  scene  well 
worth  looking  at  ;  and  now,  since  the  steamers  have  acquu'ed 
so  much  velocity,  I  should  think  would  not  be  an  unpleasant 
lounge  for  the  fastidious  ennuye  of  France  or  England.  The 
beauty  and  coolness  of  the  morning,  the  lovely  sky,  and  the 
cheerfulness  of  the  slaves,  whom  our  morbid  philanthropists  wish 
to  render  happy,  by  making  discontented,  would,  altogether, 
amply  repay  the  trouble  and  expense  of  a  voyage,  to  those  who 
have  leisure  or  money  enough  to  enable  them  to  visit  the  tropi- 
cal islands. 

The  delightful  and,  indeed,  indispensable  amusement  of  bath- 
ing is  particularly  dangerous  in  these  countries.  In  the  shal- 
lows you  are  hable  to  be  struck  by  the  stingray,  a  species  of 
skate,  with  a  sharp  barb  about  the  middle  of  his  tail;  and  the 
effect  of  the  wound  is  so  serious,  that  I  have  known  a  person  to 
be  in  a  state  of  frenzy  from  it  for  nearly  forty-eight  hours.  In 
deep  water,  the  sharks  are  not  only  numerous  but  ravenous;  and 
I  sometimes  gratified  their  appetites,  and  my  own  love  of  excite- 
ment, by  pui'chasing  the  carcass  of  a  dead  cow,  or  horse.  This 
I  towed  off,  and  anchored  with  a  thick  rope  and  a  large  stone  ; 
then,  from  my  boat,  with  a  harpoon,  I  amused  myself  in  striking 
these  devils  as  they  crowded  round  for  their  meal.  My  readers 
will,  I  fear,  think  I  am  much  too  fond  of  relating  adventures 
among  these  marine  undertakers  ;  but  the  following  incident 
will  not  be  found  without  interest. 

In  company  with  Charles,  one  beautiful  afternoon,  rambling 
over  the  rocky  cliffs  at  the  back  of  the  island,  we  came  to  a  spot 
where  the  stillness  and  the  clear  transparency  of  the  water  invited 
us  to  bathe.  It  was  not  deep.  As  we  stood  above,  on  the 
])roiriontory,  we  could  see  the  bottom  in  every  part.  Under  the 
little  headland,  which  formed  the  opposite  side  of  the  cove,  there 


THE    NAVAT,    OFFICER.  257 

was  a  cavern,  to  which,  as  the  shore  was  steep,  there  was  no  ac- 
cess but  by  swimming,  and  we  resolved  to  explore  it.  We  soon 
reached  its  mouth,  and  were  enchanted  with  its  romantic  gran- 
deur and  wild  beauty.  It  extended,  we  found,  a  long  way  back, 
and  had  several  natural  baths,  into  all  of  which  we  successively 
threw  ourselves,  each,  as  they  receded  farther  from  the  mouth 
of  the  cavern,  being  colder  than  the  last.  The  tide,  it  was  evi- 
dent, had  free  ingress,  and  renewed  the  water  every  twelve 
hours.  Here  we  thoughtlessly,  amused  ourselves  for  some  time, 
quoting  Acis  and  Galatea,  Diana  and  her  nymphs,  and  every 
classic  story  applicable  to  the  scene. 

At  length,  the  declining  sun  warned  us  that  it  was  time  to 
take  our  departure  from  the  cave,  when,  at  no  great  distance  from 
us,  we  saw  the  back  or  dorsal  fin  of  a  monstrous  shark  above 
the  surface  of  the  water,  and  his  whole  length  visible  beneath  it. 
We  looked  at  him  and  at  each  other  with  dismay,  hoping  that 
he  would  soon  take  his  departure,  and  go  in  search  of  other 
prey;  but  the  rogue  swam  to  and  fro,  just  like  a  frigate  block- 
ading an  enemy's  port,  and  we  felt,  I  suppose,  very  much-  as  we 
used  to  make  the  French  and  Dutch  feel  last  war,  at  Brest  and 
the  Texel. 

The  sentinel  paraded  before  us,  about  ten  or  fifteen  yards  in 
front  of  the  cave,  tack  and  tack,  waiting  only  to  serve  one,  if 
not  both  of  us,  as  'v.'c  should  have  served  a  shrimp  or  an  oyster. 
We  had  no  intention,  however,  in  this,  as  in  other  instances,  of 
"  throwing  ourselves  on  the  mercy  of  the  court."  In  vain  did 
we  look  for  relief  from  other  quarters,  the  promontory  above  us 
was  inaccessible  ;  the  tide  was  rising,  and  the  sun  touching  the 
clear  blue  edge  of  the  horizon. 

I,  being  the  leader,  pretended  to  a  little  knowledge  in  ichthy- 
ology, and  told  my  companion  that  fish  could  hear  as  well  as  see, 
and  that,  therefore,  the  less  we  said  the  better;  and  the  sooner 
we  retreated  out  of  his  sight,  the  sooner  he  would  take  himself 
off.  This  was  our  only  chance,  and  that  a  poor  one;  for  the 
flow  of  the  water  would  sopn  have  enabled  him  to  enter  the 
cave  and  help  himself,  as  he  seemed  perfectly  acquainted  with 


258  ,  FRANK    MILDIIAY  ;    OR, 

the  locale,  and  knew  that  we  had  no  mode  of  retreat  but  by  the 
way  we  came.  We  drew  back,  out  of  sight;  and  I  don't  know 
when  I  ever  passed  a  more  unpleasant  quarter  of  an  hour.  A 
suit  in  chancery,  or  even  a  spring  lounge  in  Newgate,  would 
have  been  almost  luxury  to  what  I  felt  when  the  shades  of  night 
began  to  darken  the  mouth  of  our  cave,  and  this  infernal  mon- 
ster continued  to  parade,  like  a  water-bailiff",  before  its  door.  At 
last,  not  seeing  the  shark's  fin  above  water,  I  made  a  sign  to 
Charles  that  coute  qui  coute,  we  must  swim  for  it;  for  we  had 
notice  to  quit,  by  the  tide;  and  if  we  did  not  depart,  should 
soon  have  an  execution  in  the  house.  We  had  been  careful  not 
to  utter  a  word  ;  and,  silently  pressing  each  other  by  the  hand, 
we  slipped  into  the  water  ;  when,  recommending  ourselves  to 
Providence,  which,  for  my  part,  I  seldom  forgot  when  I  was  in 
imminent  danger,  we  struck  out  manfully.  I  must  own  I  never 
felt  more  assured  of  destruction,  not  even  when  I  swam  through 
the  blood  of  the  poor  sailor ;  for  then  the  sharks  had  something 
to  occupy  them,  but  here  th'ey  had  nothing  else  to  do  but  to 
look  after  us.     We  had  the  benefit  of  their  undivided  attention. 

My  sensations  were  indiscribably  horrible.  I  may  occasion- 
ally write  or  talk  of  the  circumstance  with  levity,  but  whenever 
I  recall  it  to  mind,  I  tremble  at  the  bare  recollection  of  the 
dreadful  fate  that  seemed  inevitable.  My  companion  was  not  so 
expert  a  swimmer  as  I  was,  so  that  I  distanced  him  many  feet, 
when  I  heard  him  utter  a  faint  cry.  I  turned  round,  convinced 
that  the  shark  had  seized  him,  but  it  was  not  so  ;  my  having 
left  him  so  far  behind  had  increased  his  terror,  and  induced  him 
to  draw  my  attention.  I  returned  to  him,  held  him  up,  and 
encouraged  him.  Without  this,  he  would  certainly  have  sunk  ; 
he  revived  witli  my  help,  and  we  reached  the  sandy  beach  in 
safety,  having  eluded  our  enemy;  who,  when  he  neither  saw  nor 
heard  us,  had,  as  I  concluded  he  would,  (juitted  the  spot. 

Once  more  on  terra  firma,  we  lay  gasping  for  some  minutes' 
before  we  spoke.     What  my  companion's  thoughts  were,  I  do 
not  know  ;  mine  were  rei)lete  with  gratitude  to  God,  and  re 
newed  vows  of  amendment;  and  I  have  every  reason  to  think 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  259 

that  although  Charles  had  not  so  much  room  for  reform  as  my- 
self, that  his  fct'liuys  were  perfectly  iu  uui^ou  with  my  own.  Wa 
never  afterwards  repeated  this  amusement,  though  we  frequently 
talked  of  our  escape,  and  laughed  at  our  terrors;  yet  on  these 
occasions  our  conversation  always  took  a  serious  turn ;  and,  up(ni 
the  whole,  1  am  convinced  that  this  adventure  did  us  botii  a 
va*t  deal  of  good. 

I  had  now  been  six  mouths  iu  these  islands,  had  perfectly 
recovered  my  health,  and  became  anxious  for  active  employment. 
The  brilliant  successes  of  our  rear-admiral  at  ^\'ashing•ton,  made 
me  wish  for  a  share  of  the  honour  and  glory  which  my  brethren 
iu  arms  were  acquiring  on  the  coaSt  of  North  America;  but  my 
wayward  fate  sent  me  in  a  very  opposite  dii'ection. 


CHAPTER   XIX. 

Mira. — How  came  we  ashore  ? 
Pro. — ^By  Providence  divine. 

«  «  *  *  *  4!  * 

Sit  still,  and  hear  the  last  of  our  sea  sorrow. 
Here  in  this  island  we  arrived. 

Tempest. 

A  FRIGATE  called  at  the  island  for  turtle  ;  and,  having  repre- 
sented my  case  to  the  captain,  he  oflered  to  take  me  on  board, 
telling  me  at  the  same  time  that  he  was  going  much  farther  to 
the  southward,  to  relieve  another  cruiser,  who  would  then 
return  to  Euglaud,  and  the  captain  of  her  would,  no  doubt, 
give  me  a  passage  home.  I  accordingly  made  hasty  prepara- 
tions for  my  departure ;  took  leave  of  all  my  kind  friends  at  the 
i)arracks,  for  kind  indeed  they  were  to  me,  although  thoughtless 
and  foolish  towards  themselves.  1  bade  adieu  to  the  families 
ou  the  island,  in  whose  houses  and  at  whose  tables  I  had  ex- 
perienced the  most  liberal  hospitality  ;  and  last,  though  not 
least,  I  took  leave  of  poor  Carlotta. 

This  was  a  difiicult  task  to  perform,  but  it  was  imperative. 


260  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

I  told  her  that  I  was  ordered  on  board  by  the  captain,  who, 
being  a  very  different  person  from  the  last,  I  dare  not  disobey. 
I  promised  to  return  to  her  soon.  I  offered  her  money  and 
presents,  but  she  would  accept  of  nothing  but  a  small  locket, 
to  wear  for  my  sake.  I  purchased  the  freedom  of  poor  Sophy, 
the  black  gii'l,  who  had  saved  my  life.  The  little  creature 
wept  bitterly  at  my  coming  away  ;  but  I  could  do  no  more  for 
her.  As  for  Carlotta,  I  learned  afterwards  that  she  went  on 
board  every  ship  that  arrived,  to  gain  intelligence  of  me,  who 
seldom  or  ever  gave  her  a  thought. 

We  sailed;  and  steering  away  to  the  south-east  with  moderate 
winds  and  fine  weather,  captured,  at  the  end  of  that  time,  a 
large  American  ship,  which  had  made  a  devious  course  from  the 
French  coast,  in  hopes  of  avoiding  our  cruisers  ;  she  was  about 
four  hundred  tons,  deeply  laden,  and  bound  to  Laguira,  with  a 
valuable  cargo.  The  captain  sent  for  me,  and  told  me  that  if 
I  chose  to  take  charge  of  her  as  prize-master,  I  might  proceed 
to  England  direct.  This  plan  exactly  suited  me,  and  I  con- 
sented, only  begging  to  have  a  boatswain's  mate,  named 
Thompson,  to  go  along  with  me  ;  he  was  an  old  shipmate,  and 
had  been  one  of  my  gig's  crew  when  we  had  the  affair  in 
Basque"  Roads  ;  he  was  a  steady,  resolute,  quiet,  sober,  raw- 
boned  Caledonian,  from  Aberdeen,  and  a  man  that  I  knew  would 
stand  by  me  in  the  hour  of  need.  He  was  ordered  to  go  with 
me,  and  the  necessary  supply  of  provisions  and  spirits  were  put 
on  board.  I  received  my  orders,  and  took  my  leave  of  my 
new  captahi,  who  was  both  a  good  seaman  and  an  excellent 
officer. 

When  I  got  on  board  the  prize  I  found  all  the  prisoners 
busy  packing  up  their  things,  and  they  became  exceedingly 
alert  in  placing  them  in  the  boat  which  was  to  convey  them  on 
board  the  frigate.  Indeed  they,  all  crowded  into  her  with  an 
unusual  degree  of  activity  ;  but  this  did  not  particularly  strike 
my  attention  at  the  time.  My  directions  were  to  retain  the 
captain  and  one  man  with  me,  in  order  to  condemn  the  vessel 
in  the  Court  of  Admiralty. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  261 

Occupied  with  many  objects  at  once,  all  important  to  rae,  as 
I  was  so  soon  to  part  company  with  the  frigate,  1  did  not  recol- 
lect this  part  of  my  orders,  and  that  I  was  detaining  the  boat, 
until  the  young  midshipman  who  had  charge  of  her  asked  me 
if  he  might  return  on  board  and  take  the  prisoners.  I  tlicn 
went  on  deck,  and  seeing  the  whole  of  them,  with  their  chests 
and  bags  seated  very  quietly  in  the  boat  and  ready  to  shove  off, 
I  desired  the  captain  and  one  of  the  American  seamen  to  come 
on  board  again,  and  to  bring  their  clothes  with  thenj.  1  did 
not  remark  the  unw-ilhngness  of  the  captain  to  oljcy  this 
order,  until  told  of  it  by  the  midshipman  ;  his  chest  and  goods 
were  immediately  handed  in  upon  deck,  and  the  signal  from  the 
frigate  being  repeated,  with  a  light  for  the  boat  to  return,  (for 
it  was  now  dark,)  she  shoved  off  hastily,  and  was  soon  out  of 
sight. 

"  Stop  the  boat  1  for  God's  sake,  stop  the  boat !"  cried  the 
captain. 

"  Why  should  I  stop  the  boat  ?"  said  I  ;  ".my  orders  are 
positive,  and  you  must  remain  with  me." 

I  then  went  below  for  a  minute  or'iwo,  and  the  captain  fol- 
lowed me. 

"  As  you  value  your  life,  sir,"  said  he,  "  stop  the  boat." 

"Why  ?"  asked  I,  eagerly. 

"  Because,  sir,"  said  he,  "  the  ship  has  been  scuttled  by  the 
men,  and  will  sink  in  a  few  hours:  you  cannot  save  her,  for  you 
cannot  get  at  her  leaks." 

I  now  did  indeed  see  the  necessity  of  stopping  the  boat ;  Ijut 
it  was  too  late;  she  was  out  of  sight.  The  lauthorn,  the  signal 
for  her  return,  had  been  hauled  down,  a  proof  that  she  liad  got 
on  board.  I  hoisted  two  lights  at  the  mizzen  peak,  and  ordered 
a  musket  to  be  fired  ;  but,  unfortunately,  the  cartridges  had 
either  not  been  put  in  the  boat  which  brought  me,  or  they  had 
been  taken  back  in  her.  One  of  ray  lights  went  out;  the  other 
was  not  seen  by  the  frigate.  We  hoisted  another  light,  but  it 
gained  no  notice  ;  the  ship  had  evidently  made  sail.  I  stood 
after  her  as  fast  as  I  could,  in  hopes  of  her  seeing  us  that 


262  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

night,  or  taking  ns  out  the  next  morning,  should  we  be 
afloat. 

But  my  vessel,  deeply  laden,  was  already  getting  water- 
logged, and  would  not  sail  on  a  wind  more  than  four  miles 
an  hour.  All  hope  in  that  quarter  vanished.  I  then  en- 
deavoured to  discover  from  the  captain  where  the  leaks  were, 
that  we  might  stop  them  ;  but  he  had  been  drinking  so 
■  freely,  that  I  could  get  nothing  from  him  but  Dutch  courage 
and  braggadocia.  The  poor  black  man  who  had  been  left  with 
the  captain  was  next  consulted.  All  he  knew  was,  that,  when 
at  Bordeaux,  the  captain  had  caused  holes  to  be  bored  in  the 
ship's  bottom,  that  he  might  pull  the  plugs  out  whenever  he 
liked,  swearing,  at  the  same  time,  that  she  never  should  enter 
a  British  port.  He  did  not  know  where  the  leaks  were  situ- 
ated, though  it  was  evident  to  me  that  they  were  in  the  after 
and  also  in  the  fore  parts  of  the  ship,  low  down,  and  now  deep 
under  water,  both  inside  as  well  as  out.  The  black  man 
added,  that  the  captain  had  let  the  water  in,  and  that  was 
all  he  knew. 

I  again  spoke  to  the  captain,  but  he  was  too  far  gone  to 
reason  with  ;  he  had  got  drunk  to  die,  because  he  was  afraid 
to  die  sober — no  unusual  case  with  sailors. 

"  Don't  tell  me  ;  d — n  me,  who  is  afeard  to  die  ?  I  ar'n't. 
I  swore  she  should  never  enter  a  British  port,  and  I  have  kept 
my  word." 

He  then  began  to  use  curses  and  execrations  ;  and,  at  last, 
fell  on  the  deck  in  a  fit  of  drunken  frenzy. 

I  now  called  my  people  all  together,  and  having  stated 
to  them  the  peril  of  our  situation,  we  agreed  that  a  large  boat, 
which  lay  on  the  booms,  should  be  instantly  hoisted  out,  and 
stowed  with  every  thing  necessary  for  a  voyage.  Our  clothes, 
bread,  salt,  meat,  and  water,  Avcre  put  into  her,  with  my  sex- 
tant and  spy-glass.  The  liquor,  which  was  in  the  cabin,  I  gave 
in  charge  to  the  midshipman  who  was  sent  with  me  ;  and,  hav- 
ing completely  stowed  our  boat,  and  prepared  her  with  a  good 
lug-sail,  we  made  her  fast  with  a  couple  of  stout  tow-ropes,  and 


THE    -VAVAL    OFFICER.  263 

veered  her  astern,  witli  four  men  in  her,  keei)iiig  on  our  course 
in  the  supposed  track  of  the  frigate  till  day-light. 

That  wished  for  hour  arrived,  but  no  frigate  was  to  be  seen, 
even  from  the  mast-head.  The  ship  was  getting  deeper  and 
deeper,  and  we  prepared  to  take  to  the  boat.  I  calculated  the 
nearest  part  of  South  America  to  be  seven  hundred  miles  from 
us,  and  that  we  were  more  than  twice  that  distance  from  Rio 
Janeiro.  I  did  not,  however,  despond,  for,  under  all  circum- 
stances, we  were  extremely  well  off :  and  I  inspired  the  men 
with  so  much  confidence,  that  they  obeyed  in  every  thing,  with 
the  utmost  alacrity  and  cheerfulness,  except  in  one  single  point. 

Finding  the  ship  could  not  in  all  probability  float  more  than 
an  hour  or  two,  I  determined  to  quit  her,  and  ordered  the  boat 
alongside.  The  men  got  into  her,  stepped  the  mast,  hooked  on 
the  lug-sail,  ready  to  hoist  at  my  orders  ;  and,  without  my  bid- 
ding, had  spread  my  boat  cloak  in  the  stern-sheets,  and  made  a 
comfortable  place  for  me  to  repose  in.  The  master  proceeded 
to  get  into  the  boat,  but  the  men  repulsed  him  with  kicks, 
blows,  and  hisses,  swearing  most  dreadfully  that  if  he  attempted 
to  come  in,  they  would  throw  him  overboard.  Although  in 
some  measure  I  participated  in  their  angry  feeling,  yet  I  could 
not  reconcile  myself  to  leave  a  fellow-creature  thus  to  perish, 
even  in  the  pit  which  he  had  dug  for  others,  and  this  too  at  a 
time  when  we  needed  every  indulgence  from  the  Almighty  for 
ourselves,  and  every  assistance  from  his  hand  to  conduct  us  into 
a  port. 

"  He  deserves  to  die  ;  it  is  all  his  own  doing,"  said  they  ; 
"  come  into  the  boat  yourself,  sir,  or  we  must  shove  off  without 
you." 

The  poor  captain — who,  after  sleeping  four  hours,  had  recov- 
ered his  senses,  and  felt  all  the  horror  of  his  situation — wept, 
screamed,  tore  his  hair,  laid  hold  of  my  coat,  from  which  only 
the  strength  of  my  men  could  disengage  him.  He  clung  to  life 
with  a  passion  of  feeling  which  I  never  saw  in  a  criminal  con- 
demned by  the  law  ;  he  fell  on  his  knees  before  me,  as  he 
appealed  to  us  all,  collectively  and  separately  ;  he  reminded  us 


264  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

of  his  wife  and  starving  children  at  Baltimore,  and  he  implored 
us  to  think  of  them  and  of  our  own. 

I  was  melted  to  tears,  I  confess  ;  but  my  meu  heard  him 
with  the  most  stoical  unconcern.  Two  of  them  threw  him  over 
to  the  opposite  side  of  the  deck  ;  and  before  he  could  recover 
from  the  violence  of  the  fall,  pushed  me  into  the  boat,  and 
shoved  off.  The  wretched  man  had  by  this  time  crawled  over  to 
the  side  we  had  just  left  ;  and  throwing  himself  on  his  knees, 
again  screamed  out,  "  Oh,  mercy,  mercy,  mercy  ! — For  God's 
sake  have  mercy,  if  you  expect  any  ! — 0  God  !  my  wife  and 
babes  1" 

His  prayers,  I  lament  to  say,  had  no  effect  on  the  exasper- 
ated seamen.  He  then  fell  into  a  fit  of  cursing  and  blasphemy, 
evidently  bereft  of  his  senses  ;  and  in  this  state  he  continued 
for  some  minutes,  while  we  lay  alongside,  the  bowman  holding 
on  with  the  boat-hook  only.  I  was  secretly  determined  not  to 
leave  him,  although  I  foresaw  a  mutiny  in  the  boat  in  conse- 
quence. At  length,  I  gave  the  order  to  shove  off.  The  unhappy 
captain,  who,  till  that  moment,  might  -have  entertained  some 
faint  hope  from  the  lurking  compassion  which  he  perceived  I 
felt  for  him,  now  resigned  himself  to  despair  of  a  more  sullen 
and  horrible  aspect.  He  sat  himself  down  on  one  of  the  hen- 
coops, and  gazed  on  us  with  a  ghastly  eye.  I  cannot  remember 
ever  seeing  a  more  shocking  picture  of  humfln  misery. 

While  I  looked  at  him,  the  black  man,  Mungo,  who  belonged 
to  the  ship,  sprang  overboard  from  the  boat,  and  swam  back 
to  the  wreck.  Seizing  a  rope  which  hung  from  the  gangway, 
he  ascended  the  side,  and  joined  his  master.  We  called  him 
to  come  back,  or  we  would  leave  him  behind. 

"  No,  massa,"  replied  the  faithful  creature  ;  "  me  no  want  to 
lib  ;  no  takce  Massa  Green,  no  takee  me  !  Mungo  lib  good 
many  years  wi'  massa  cappen.  Mungo  die  wi'  massa,  and  go 
back  to  Guinea  I" 

I  now  thought,  we  had  given  the  captain  a  sufficient  lesson 
for  his  treachery  and  murderous  intentions.  Had  I,  indeed, 
ever  seriously  intended  to  leave  him,  the  conduct  of  poor  Mango 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  265 

would  have  awakened  rae  to  a  sense  of  my  duty.  I  ordered 
Thompson,  who  was  steering  the  boat,  to  put  tlie  helm  a-star- 
board,  and  lay  her  alongside  again.  No  sooner  was  this  com- 
mand given,  than  three  or  four  of  the  men  jumped  up  in  a 
menacing  attitude,  and  swore  that  they  would  not  go  back  for 
him;  that  he  was  the  cause  of  all  their  sufferings;  and  that  if  I 
chose  to  share  his  fate,  I  might,  but  into  the  boat  he  should  not 
come.  One  of  them,  more  daring  than  the  rest,  attempted  to 
take  the  tiller  from  Thompson's  hand  ;  but  the  trusty  seaman 
seized  him  by  the  collar,  and  in  an  instant  threw  him  over- 
board. The  other  men  were  coming  aft  to  avenge  this  treat- 
ment of  their  leader  ;  but  I  drew  my  sword,  and  pointing  it  at 
the  breast  of  the  nearest  mutineer,  desired  him,  on  pain  of 
instant  death,  to  return  to  his  seat.  He  had  heard  my  character, 
and  knew  that  I  was  not  to  be  trifled  with. 

A  mutineer  is  easily  subdued  with  common  firmness.  He 
obeyed,  but  was  very  sullen,  and  I  heard  many  mutinous  expres- 
sions among  the  men.  One  of  them  said  that  I  was  not  their 
officer — that  I  did  not  belong  to  the  frigate. 

"  That,"  I  replied,  "  is  a  case  of  which  I  shall  not  allow  you 
to  be  judges.  I  hold  in  my  pocket  a  commission  from  the 
king's  lord  high  admiral,  or  the  commissioners  for  executing 
that  duty.  Your  captain,  and  mine  also,  holds  a  similar  com- 
mission. Under  this  authority  I  act.  Let  rae  see  the  man  that 
dares  dispute  it — I  will  hang  him  at  the  yard-arm  of  the  wreck 
before  she  goes  down  ;"  and,  looking  at  the  man  whom  Thomp- 
son had  thrown  overboard,  and  who  still  held  by  the  gunwale 
of  the  boat,  without  daring  to  get  in,  I  asked  him  if  he  would 
obey  me  or  not  ?  He  replied  that  he  would,  and  hoped  I  would 
forgive  him.  I  said  that  my  forgiveness  would  depend  entirely 
on  the  conduct  of  himself  and  the  others  ;  that  he  must  recol- 
lect that  if  our  own  ship,  or  any  other  man-of-war  picked  us  up, 
he  was  Uable,  with  three  or  four  more,  to  be  hanged  for  mutiny; 
and  that  nothing  but  his  and  their  future  obedience. could  save 
them  from  that  punishment,  whenever  we  reached  a  port. 

This  harangue  had  a  very  tranquillizing  effect.     The  offenders 

12 


266  FKANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

all  begged  pardon,  aud  assured  me  they  would  deserye  my  for- 
giveness by  their  future  submission. 

All  this  passed  at  some  little  distance  from  the  wreck,  but 
within  hearing  ;  and  whUe  it  was  going  on,  the  wind,  which  had 
been  fair  when  we  put  off,  gradually  died  away,  and  blew  faintly 
from  the  southwest,  directly  towards  the  sinking  wreck.  I  took 
advantage  of  this  circumstance  to  read  them  a  lecture.  When 
I  had  subdued  them  and  worked  a  little  on  their  feelings,  I  said 
I  never  knew  any  good  come  of  cruelty:  whenever  a  ship  or  a 
boat  had  left  a  man  behind  who  might  have  been  saved,  that 
disaster  or  destruction  had  invariably  attended  those  who  had  so 
cruelly  acted  ;  that  I  was  quite  sure  we  never  should  escape 
from  this  danger,  if  we  did  not  show  mercy  to  our  fellow-crea- 
tures. "  God,"  said  I,  "  has  shown  mercy  to  us,  in  giving  us 
this  excellent  boat  to  save  us  in  our  imminent  danger  ;  and  He 
seems  to  say  to  us  now,  .'  Go  back  to  the  wreck,  and  rescue 
your  fellow  sufferer.'  The  wind  blows  directly  towards  her, 
and  is  foul  for  the  point  in  which  we  intended  to  steer  ;  hasten, 
then,"  pursued  I,  "obey  the  Divine  will  ;  do  your  duty,  aud 
trust  in  God.  I  shall  then  be  proud  to  command  you,  and  have 
no  doubt  of  bringing  you  safe  into  port." 

This  was  the  "  pliant  hour  ;"  they  sprang  upon  their  oars, -and 
pulled  back  to  the  wreck  with  alacrity.  The  poor  captain,  who 
had  witnessed  all  that  passed,  watched  the  progress  of  his  cause 
with  deep  anxiety.  No  sooner  did  the  boat  touch  the  ship, 
than  he  leaped  into  her,  fell  down  on  his  knees,  and  thanked 
God  aloud  for  his  deliverance.  He  then  fell  on  my  neck,  em- 
braced me,  kissed  my  cheek,  and  wept  like  a  girl.  The  sailors, 
meanwhile,  who  never  bear  malice  long,  good-naturedly  jumped 
up,  aud  assisted  him  in  getting  his  little  articles  into  the  boat ; 
and  as  Mungo  followed  his  master,  shook  hands  with  him  all 
round,  and  swore  he  should  be  a  black  prince  when  he  went 
back  to  Guinea.  We  also  took  in  one  or  two  more  little  arti- 
cles of  general  use,  which  had  beeu  forgotten  in  our  former 
hurry. 

We  now  shoved  off  for  the  last  time  ;  and  had  not  proceeded 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  261 

more  than  two  hundred  yards  from  tlie  ship,  when  she  gave  a 
heavy  lurch  on  one  side,  recovered  it,  and  rolled  as  deep  on  the 
other  ;  then,  as  if  endued  with  life  and  instinct,, gave  a  pitch, 
and  went  down,  head  foremost,  into  the  fathomless  deep.  We 
had  scarcely  time  to  behold  this  awful  scene,  when  the  wind 
again  sprang  up  fair,  from  its  old  quarter,  the  east. 

"There,"  said  I.  "Heaven  has  declared  itself  in  your  favour 
already.     You  have  got  your  fair  wind  again." 

We  thanked  God  for  this  ;  and  having  set  our  sail,  I  shaped 
my  course  for  Cape  St.  Thomas,  and  we  went  to  our  frugal 
dinner  with  cheerful  and  grateful  hearts. 

The  weather  was  fine — the  sea  tolerably  smooth — and  as  we 
had  plenty  of  provisions  and  water,  we  did  not  suffer  much, 
except  from  an  apprehension  of  a  change  of  wind,  and  the  know- 
ledge of  our  precarious  situation.  On  the  fifth  day  after  leaving 
the  wreck,  we  discovered  land  at  a  great  distance.  I  knew  it 
to  be  the  island  of  Trinidad  and  the  rock  of  Martin  Vas.  This 
island,  which  lies  in  latitude  twenty  degrees  south,  and  longi- 
tude thirty  degrees  w^est,  is  not  to  be  confounded  with  the 
island  of  the  same  name  on  the  coast  of  Terra  Firma,  in  the 
West  Indies,  and  now  a  British  colony. 

On  consulting  Horseberg,  which  I  bad  in  the  boat,  I  found 
that  the  island  which  we  were  now  a})proachiMg  was  formerly 
inhabited  by  the  Portuguese,  but  long  since  abandoned.  I  con- 
tinued steering  towards  it  during  the  night,  until  we  heard  the 
breakers  roaring  against  the  rocks,  when  I  hove-to,  to  wind- 
ward of  the  land,  till  day-light. 

The  morning  presented  to  our  view  a  precipitous  and  rugged 
iron-bound  coast,  with  high  and  pointed  rocks,  frowning  defiance 
over  the  unappeasable  and  furious  waves  which  broke  inces- 
santly at  their  feet,  and  recoiled  to  repeat  the  blow.  Thus  for 
ages  had  they  been  employed,  and  thus  for  ages  will  they 
continue,  without  making  any  impression  visible  to  the  eye  of 
man.  To  land  was  impossible  on  the  part  of  the  coast  now 
under  our  inspection,  and  we  coasted  along,  in  hopes  of  finding 
some  haven  into  which  we  might  haul  our  lioat,  and  .'^ecnre  her. 


268  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

This  island  appeared  to  be  about  nine  miles  long,  evidently  of 
volcanic  formation,  an  assemblage  of  rocky  mountains  towering 
several  hundred  feet  above  the  level  of  the  sea.  It  was  barren, 
except  at  the  summit  of  the  hills,  where  some  trees  formed 
a  coronet,  at  once  beautiful  and  refreshing,  but  tantalizing 
to  look  at,  as  they  appeared  utterly  inaccessible  ;  and  even  sup- 
posing I  could  have  discovered  a  landing-place,  I  was  in  great 
doubt  whether  I  should  have  availed  myself  of  it,  as  the  island 
appeared  to  produce  nothing  which  could  have  added  to  our 
comfort,  while  delay  would  only  have  uselessly  consumed  our 
provisions.  There  did  not  appear  to  be  a  living  creature  on 
the  island,  and  the  danger  of  ajDproaching  to  find  a  landing- 
place  was  most  imminent. 

This  unpromising  appearance  induced  me  to  propose  that  we 
should  continue  our  course  to  Rio  Janeiro.  The  men  were 
of  another  opinion.  They  said  they  had  been  too  long  afloat, 
cooped  up,  and  that  they  should  prefer  remaining  on  the  island 
to  risking  their  lives  any  longer,  in  so  frail  a  boat,  ou  the  wide 
ocean.  We  were  still  debating,  when  we  came  .to  a  small  spot 
of  sand,  on  which  we  discovered  two  wild  hogs,  which  we  con- 
jectured had  come  down  to  feed  on  shell-fish;  this  decided  them, 
and  I  consented  to  run  to  leeward  of  the  island,  and  seek  for  a 
landing-place.  We  sounded  the  west  end,  followed  the  remax-ks 
of  Horseberg,  and  ran  for  the  cove  of  the  Nine-Pin  Rock.  As 
we  opened  it,  a  scene  of  grandeur  presented  itself,  which  we  had 
never  met  with  before,  and  which  in  its  kind  is  probably 
unrivalled  in  nature.  An  enormous  rock  rose,  nearly  perpen- 
dicularly, out  of  the  sea,  to  the  height  of  nine  hundred  or 
one  thousand  feet.  It  was  as  narrow  at  the  base  as  it  was 
at  the  top,  and  was  formed  exactly  in  the  shape  of  the  nine-pin, 
from  which  it  derives  its  name.  The  sides  appeared  smooth 
and  even  to  the  top,  which  was  covered  with  verdure,  and  was 
so  far  above  us  that  the  sea-birds,  which  in  myriads  screamed 
around  it,  were  scarcely  visible  two-thirds  of  the  way  up. 
The  sea  beat  violently  against  its  base — the  feathered  tribe, 
in  endless  variety,  had  been  for  ages  the  undisturbed  tenants 


THK    NAVAL    OKFRKR.  2r>9 

of  this  natural  monument  ;  all  its  jutting  points  and  little 
projections  were  covered  with  their  white  dung,  and  it  seemed 
to  me  a  wonderful  effort  of  Nature,  which  had  placed  this  mass 
in  the  position  which  it  held,  in  spite  of  the  utmost  efforts 
of  the  winds,  and  the  waves  of  the  wide  ocean. 

Another  curious  plienomenon  appeared  at  the  other  end  of 
the  cove.  The  lava  had  poured  down  into  the  sea,  and  formed 
a  stratum  ;  a  second  river  of  fused  rock  had  poured  again  over 
tlie  first,  and  had  cooled  so  rapidly  as  to  hang  suspended,  not 
having  joined  the  former  strata,  but  leaving  a  vacuum  between 
for  the  water  to  fill  up.  The  sea  dashed  violently  between  the 
two  beds,  and  spouted  magnificently  through  holes  in  the  upper 
bed  of  lava  to  the  height  of  sixty  feet,  resembling  umch  the 
spouting  of  a  whale,  but.with  a  noise  and  force  infinitely  greater. 
The  sound  indeed  was  tremendous,  hollow,  and  awful.  I  could 
not  help  mentally  adoring  the  works  of  the  Creator,  and  my 
heart  sunk  within  me  at  my  own  insignificance,  folly,  and  wick- 
edness. 

As  we  were  now  running  along  the  shore,  looking  for  our 
landing-place,  and  just  going  to  take  in  the  sail,  the  American 
captain,  who  sat  close  to  the  man  at  the  helm,  seemed  atten- 
tively watching  something  on  the  larboard  bow  of  the  boat. 
In  an  instant  he  exclaimed,  "  Put  your  helm,  my  good  fellow, 
port-hard."  These  words  he  accompanied  with  a  push  of  the 
helm  so  violent,  as  almost  to  throw  the  man  overboard,  who  sat 
on  the  larboard  quarter.  At  the  same  moment,  a  heavy  sea 
lifted  the  boat,  and  sent  her  many  yards  beyond  and  to  the 
right  of  a'pointed  rock,  jnst  flush  or  even  with  the  water,  which 
had  escaped  our  notice,  and  which  none  suspected  but  the 
American  captain  (for  these  rocks  do  not  show  breakers  every 
minute  ;  if  they  did,  they  would  be  easily  avoided).  On  this 
we  should  most  certainly  have  been  dashed  to  pieces,  had  not 
the  danger  been  seen  and  avoided  by  the  sudden  and  skillful 
motion  of  the  helm  ;  one  moment  more,  and  one  foot  nearer, 
and  we  were  gone. 

"  Merciful  God !"  said  I,  "to  what  fate  am  I  reserved  at 


2t0  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

last  ?     How  can  I  be  sufficiently  thankful  for  so  mucli  good 
ness  ?" 

I  thanked  the  American  for  his  attention — told  my  men  how 
much  we  were  indebted  to  him,  and  how  amply  he  had  repaid 
our  kindness  in  taking  him  off  the  wreck. 

"  Ah,  lieutenant,"  said  the  poor  man,  "  it  is  a,  small  turn  I've 
done  you  for  the  kindness  you  have  shown  to  me." 

The  water  was  very  deep,  the  rocks  being  steep  ;  so  we  low- 
ered our  sail,  and  getting  our  oars  out,  pulled  in  to  look  for  a 
landing.  At  the  farther  end  of  the  cove,  we  discovered  the 
wreck  of  a  vessel  lying  on  the  beach.  She  was  broken  in  two, 
and  appeared  to  be  copper-bottomed.  This  increased  the 
eagerness  of  the  men  to  land  ;  we  rowed  close  to  the  shore,  but 
found  that  the  boat  would  be  dashed  to  pieces  if  we  attempted 
it.  The  midshipman  proposed  that  one  of  us  should  swim  on 
shore,  and  by  ascending  a  hill,  discover  a  place  to  lay  the  boat 
in.  This  I  agreed  to  ;  and  the  quarter-master  immediately 
threw  off  his  clothes.  I  made  a  lead-line  fast  to  him  under  his 
arras,  that  we  might  pull  him  in  if  we  found  him  exhausted. 
He  went  over  the  surf  with  great  ease,  until  he  came  to  the 
breakers  on  the  beach,  through  which  he  could  not  force  his 
way  ;  for  the  moment  he  touched  the  ground  with  his  foot,  the 
recoil  of  the  sea,  and  what  is  called  by  sailors  the  undertow, 
carried  him  back  again,  and  left  him  in  the  rear  of  the  last 
wave. 

Three  times  the  brave  fellow  made  the  attempt,  and  with  the 
same  result.  At  last  he  sunk,  and  we  pulled  him  in  nearly 
dead.  We,  however,  restored  him  by  care  and  attention,  and 
he  went  again  to  his  usual  duty.  The  midshipman  now  pro- 
posed that  he  should  try  to  swim  through  the  surf  without  the 
line,  for  that  alone  had  impeded  the  further  progress  of  the 
quarter-master  ;  this  was  true,  but  I  would  not  allow  him  to 
run  the  risk,  and  we  jjulled  along  shore,  until  we  came  to  a  rock 
oti  which  the  surf  beat  very  high,  and  which  we  avoided  in  con- 
sequence. This  rock  we  discovered  to  be  detached  from  the 
main  ;  and  within  it,  to  our  great  joy,  we  saAV  smooth  water  ; 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER,  9JJ1 

we  pulled  iu,  and  succeeded  in  landing  without  much  difiQculty, 
and  having  secured  our  boat  to  a  grapnel,  and  left  two  trusty 
men  in  charge  of  her,  I  proceeded  with  the  rest  to  explore  the 
cove  ;  our  attention  was  naturally  iiist  directed  to  the  wreck 
whicli  we  had  passed  in  the  boat,  and,  after  a  quarter  of  an 
hour's  scrambling  over  huge  fragments  of  broken  rocks,  which 
had  been  detached  from  the  sides  of  the  hill,  and  encumbered 
the  beach,  we  arrived  at  the  spot. 

The  wreck  i)roved  to  be  a  beautiful  copper-bottomed  schooner, 
of  about  a  hundred  and  eighty  tons  burden.  She  had  been 
dashed  on  shore  with  great  violence,  and  thrown  many  yards 
above  the  high-water  mark.  Her  masts  and  spars  were  lying 
in  all  directions  on  the  beach,  which  was  strewed  with  her 
cargo.  This  consisted  of  a  variety  of  toys  and  hardware, 
musical  instruments,  violins,  flutes,  fifes,  and  bird-organs.  Some 
few  remains  of  books,  which  I  picked  up,  were  French  romances, 
with  indelicate  plates,  and  still  worse  text.  These  proved  the 
vessel  to  be  French.  At  a  short  distance  from  the  wreck,  on  a 
rising  knoll,  we  found  three  or  four  huts,  rudely  constructed  out 
of  the  fragments  ;  and,  a  little  farther  off,  a  succession  of  graves, 
each  surmounted  with  a  cross.  I  examined  the  huts,  which 
contained  some  rude  and  simple  relics  of  human  tenancy ;  a  few 
benches  and  tables,  composed  of  boards  roughly  hewn  out  and 
nailed  together  ;  bones  of  goats,  and  of  the  wild  hog,  with  the 
remains  of  burnt  wood.  But  we  could  not  discover  any  traces 
of  the  name  of  the  vessel  or  owner  ;  nor  were  there  any  names 
marked  or  cut  on  the  boards,  as  might  have  been  expected,  to 
show  to  whom  the  vessel  belonged,  and  what  had  become  of  the 
survivors. 

This  studied  concealment  of  all  information  led  us  to  the  most 
accurate  knowledge  of  her  port  of  departure,  her  destination, 
and  her  object  of  trade.  Being  on  the  south-west  side  of  t  he 
island,  with  her  head  lying  to  the  north-east,  she  had  beyond 
all  doubt,  been  running  from  Rio  Janeiro  towards  the  coast  of 
Africa,  and  got  on  shore  in  the  night.  That  she  was  going  to 
fetch  a  cargo  of  slaves  was  equally  clear,  not  only  from  the 


212  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

baubles  with  which  she  was  freiglited,  but  also  from  the  interior 
fitting  of  the  vessel,  and  from  a  number  of  hand  and  leg  shackles 
which  we  found  among  the  wreck,  and  which  we  knew  were 
only  used  for  the  purposes  of  confining  and  securing  the  unhappy 
victims  of  this  traffic. 

We  took  up  our  quarters  in  the  huts  for  the  night,  and  the 
next  morning  divided  ourselves  into  three  parties,  to.  explore  the 
island.  I  have  before  observed  that  we  had  muskets,  but  no 
powder,  and  therefore  stood  little  chance  of  killing  any  of  the 
goats  or  wild  hogs,  with  which  we  found  the  island  abounded. 
One  party  sought  the  means  of  attaining  the  highest  summit  of 
the  island  ;  another  went  along"  the  shore  to  the  westward  ; 
while  myself  and  two  others  went  to  the  eastward.  We 
crossed  several  ravines,  with  much  difficulty,  until  we  reached  a 
long  valley,  which  seemed  to  intersect  the  island. 

Here  a  wonderful  and  most  melancholy  phenomenon  arrested 
our  attention.  Thousands  and  thousands  of  trees  covered  the 
valley,  each  of  them  about  thirty  feet  high  ;  but  every  tree  was 
dead,  and  extended  its  leafless  boughs  to  another — a  forest  of 
desolation,  as  if  nature  had,  at  some  particular  moment,  ceased 
to  vegetate  I  There  was  no  underwood  or  grass.  On  the 
lowest  of  the  dead  boughs,  the  gannets,  and  other  sea-birds, 
had  built  their  nests  in  numbers  unaccountable.  Their  tame 
ness,  as  Cowper  says,  "  was  shocking  to  me."  So  unaccustomed 
did  they  seem  to  man,  that  the  mothers,  brooding  over  theii 
young,  only  opened  their  beaks  in  a  menacing  attitude  at  us, 
as  we  passed  by  them. 

How  to  account  satisfactorily  for  the  simultaneous  destruc 
tion  of  this  vast  forest  of  trees,  was  very  difficult  ;  there  was  no 
want  of  rich  earth  for  the  nourishment  of  the  roots.  The  most 
probal)le  cause  appeared  to  me,  a  sudden  and  continued  erup- 
tion of  sulphuric  effluvia  from  tlie  volcano  ;  or  else,  by  some 
unusually  heavy  gale  of  wind  or  hurricane,  the  trees  had  been 
drenched  with  salt  water  to  their  roots.  One  or  the  other  of 
these  causes  must  have  produced  the  effect.  The  philosophei 
or  the  geologist  must  decide. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  273 

Wc  had  the  consolation  tp  know  that  we  should  at  least 
experience  no  want  of  food — the  nests  of  the  birds  aflbrding  us 
a  plentiful  supply  of  eggs,  and  young  ones  of  every  age  :  with 
these  we  returned  loaded  to  the  cove.  The  party  that  had 
gone  .to  the  westward,  reported  having  seen  some  wild  hogs, 
but  were  unable  to  secure  any  of  them  ;  and  those  who  had 
attempted  to  ascend  the  mountain,  returned  much  fatigued,  and 
one  of  their  number  missing.  They  reported  that  they  had 
gained  the  summit  of  the  mountain,  where  they  had  discovered 
a  large  plain,  skirted  by  a  species  of  fern  tree,  from  twelve  to 
eighteen  feet  high — that  on  this  plain  they  had  seen  a  herd  of 
goats  ;  and  among  them,  could  distinguish  one  of  enormous 
size,  which  appeared  to  be  their  leader.  He  was  as  large  as 
a  pony  ;  but  all  attempts  to  take  one  of  them  were  utterly 
fruitless.  The  man  who  was  missing  had  followed  them  farther 
than  they  had.  They  waited  some  time  for  his  return  ;  but  as 
he  did  not  come  to  them,  they  concluded  he  had  taken  some 
other  route  to  the  cove.  I  did  not  quite  like  this  story,  fearing 
some  dreadful  accident  had  befallen  the  poor  fellow,  for  whom 
we  kept  a  watch,  and  had  a  fire  burning  the  whole  night,  which, 
like  the  former  one,  we  passed  in  the  huts.  We  had  an  abun- 
dant supply  of  fire-wood  from  the  wreck,  and  a  stream  of  clear 
water  ran  close  by  our  little  village. 

The  next  morning,  a  party  was  sent  iu  search  of  the  man, 
and  some  were  sent  to  fetch  a  su})i)ly  of  young  gannets  for  our 
dinner.  The  latter  brought  back  with  them  as  many  young 
birds  as  would  suffice  for  two  or  three  days  ;  but  of  the  three 
who  went  iu  quest  of  the  missing  man,  only  two  returned. 
They  reported  that  they  could  gain  no  tidings  of  him  :  that 
they  had  missed  one  of  their  own  number,  who  had,  no  doubt, 
gone  in  pursuit  of  his  shipmate. 

This  intelligence  occasioned  a  great  deal  of  anxiety,  and 
many  surmises.  The  most  prevalent  opinion  seemed  to  be  that 
lliere  were  wild  beasts  on  the  island,  and  that  our  poor  friends 
had  become  a  prey  to  tncm.  I  determined,  thp  next  morning, 
to  go  in  search  of  them  myself,   taking   one   or  two  chosen 


2*T4  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

men  with  me.  I  should  have  mentioned,  that  when  we  left  the 
sinking  vessel,  we  had  taken  out  a  poodle  dog,  that  was  on 
board — first,  because  I  would  not  allow  the  poor  animal  to 
perish  ;  and,  secondly,  because  we  might,  if  we  had  no  better 
food,  make  ft  dinner  of  him.  This  was  quite  fair,  as  charity 
begins  at  home. 

This  faithful  animal  became  much  attached  to  me,  from  whom 
he  invariably  received  his  portion  of  food.  He  never  quitted 
me,  nor  followed  any  one  else  ;  and  he  was  my  companion  when 
I  went  on  this  excursion. 

We  reached  the  summit  of  the  first  mountain,  whence  we  saw 
the  goats  browsing  on  the  second,  and  meant  to  go  there  in 
pursuit  of  the  objects  of  our  anxious  search.  I  was  some  yards 
in  advance  of  my  companions,  and  the  dog  a  little  distance 
before  me,  near  the  shelving  part  of  a  rock,  terminating  in  a 
precipice.  The  shelf  I  had  to  cross  was  about  six  or  seven 
feet  wide,  'and  ten  or  twelve  long,  with  a  very  little  hiclined 
plane  towards  the  precipice,  so  that  I  thought  it  perfectly  safe. 
A  small  rill  of  water  trickled  down  from  the  rock  above  it,  and, 
losing  itself  among  the  moss  and  grass,  fell  over  the  precipice 
below,  which,  indeed,  was  of  a  frightful  depth. 

This  causeway  was  to  all  appearance  safe,  compared  with 
many  which  we  had  passed,  and  I  was  just  going  to  step  upon 
it,  when  my  dog  ran  before  me,  jumped  on  the  fatal  pass — his 
feet  slipped  from  under  him — he  fell,  and  disappeared  over  the 
precipice  !  I  started  back — I  heard  a  heavy  squelch  aud  a 
howl  ;  another  fainter  succeeded,  and  all  was  still.  I  advanced 
with  the  utmost  caution,  to  the  edge  of  the  precipice,  where  I 
discovered  that  the  rill  of  water  had  nourished  a  short  moss, 
close  aud  smooth  as  velvet,  and  so  slippery  as  not  to  admit  of 
the  lightest  footstep  ;  this  accounted  for  the  sudden  disappear- 
ance, and,  as  I  concluded,  the  inevitable  death  of  my  dog. 

My  first  thoughts  were  those  of  gratitude  for  my  miraculous 
escai)e  ;  my  second  unwillingly  glanced  at  the  fate  of  my  poor 
men,  too  probt^bly  lying  lifeless  at  the  foot  of  this  mountain.  I 
stated  my  fears  to  the  two  seamen  that  were  with  me,  and  who 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  215 

liad  just  come  up.  The  whole  bore  too  much  the  appearance 
of  truth  to  admit  of  a  doubt.  We  descended  the  ruius  by  a 
ch'cuitous  and  winding  way  ;  and,  after  an  hour's  difficult  and 
dangerous  walk,  we  reached  the  spot,  were  all  our  fears  were 
too  fully  confirmed.  There  lay  the  two  dead  bodies  of  our 
companions,  and  that  of  my  dog,  all  mangled  in  a  shocking 
manner  ;  both,  it  would  appear,  had  attempted  to  cross  the 
shelf  in  the  same  careless  way  which  I  was  about  to  do,  when 
Providence  interposed  the  dog  in  my  l)ehalf. 

This  singular  dispensation  was  not  lost  upon  me  ;  indeed, 
latterly,  I  had  been  in  such  perils,  and  seen  such  hair-breadth 
escapes,  that  I  became  quite  an  altered  and  reflecting  charac- 
ter. I  returned  to  my  men  at  the  cove,  thoughtfully  and 
melancholy  ;  I  told  them  of  what  had  happened  ;  and,  having 
a  prayer-book  with  me  in  my  trunk,  I  proposed  to  them  that  I 
should  read  the  evening  prayers,  and  a  thanksgiving  for  our 
deliverance. 

In  this,  the  American  captain,  whose  name  was  Green,  most 
heartily  concurred.  Indeed,  ever  since  this  poor  man  had  been 
received  into  the  boat,  he  had  been  a  very  different  character 
to  what  I  had  at  first  sujiposed  him  ;  he  constantly  refused  his 
allowance  of  spirits,  giving  it  among  the  sailors  ;  he  was  silent 
and  meditative  ;  I  often  found  him  in  prayer,  and  on  these 
occasions  I  never  interrupted  him.  At  other  tiujes,  he  studied 
how  he  might  make  himself  most  useful.  Ue  would  patch  and 
mend  the  people's  clothes  and  shoes,  or  show  them  how  to  do 
it  for  themselves.  Whenever  any  hard  work  was  to  be  done, 
he  was  always  the  first  to  begin,  and  the  last  to  leave  off ;  and 
to  such  a  degree  did  he  carry  his  attention  and  kindness,  that 
we  all  began  to  love  him,  and  to  treat  him  with  great  respect. 
He  took  charge  of  a  watch  when  we  were  at  sea,  and  never 
closed  his  eyes  during  his  \iour  of  duty. 

Nor  was  this  tlie  efi'ect  of  fear,  or  the  dread  of  ill  usage 
among  so  many  Englishmen,  whom  his  errors  had  led  into  so 
much  misfortune.  He  very  soon  had  an  opportunity  of  proving 
that  his  altered  conduct  was  the  effect  of  sorrow  and  repent. 


2T6  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OB, 

ance.  The  next  morning  I  sent  a  party  round  by  the  sea-shore, 
with  directions  to  walk  up  the  valley  and  bury  the  bodies  of 
our  unfortunate  companions.  The  two  men  who  had  accom- 
panied me  were  of  the  number  sent  on  this  service  ;  when  they 
returned,  I  pointed  out  to  them  how  disastrous  our  residence 
had  been  on  this  fatal  island,  and  how  much  better  it  had  been 
for  us  if  we  had  continued  our  course  to  Rio  Janeiro,  which, 
being  only  two  hundred  and  fifty  or  two  hundred  and  sixty 
leagues  distant,  we  should  by  that  time  nearly  have  reached  : 
that  we  were  now  expending  the  most  valuable  part  of  our  pro- 
visions, namely — our  spirits  and  tobacco  ;  while  our  boat,  our 
only  hope  and  resource,  was  not  even  in  safety,  since  a  gale  of 
wind  might  destroy  her.  I  therefore  proposed  to  make,  imme- 
diate preparations  for  our  departure,  to  which  all  unanimously 
agreed. 

We  divided  the  various  occupations  ;  some  went  to  fetch  a 
sea  stock  of  young  birds,  which  were  killed  and  dressed  to  save 
our  salt  provisions  ;  others  filled  all  our  water-casks.  Captain 
Green  superintended  the  rigging,  sails,  and  oars  of  the  boat, 
and  saw  that  every  thing  was  complete  in  that  department. 
The  spirits  remaining  were  getting  low,  and  Captain  Green,  the 
midshipman,  and  myself,  agreed  to  drink  none,  but  reserve  it 
for  pressing  emergencies.  In  three  days  after  beginning  our 
preparations,  and  the  seventh  after  our  landing,  we  embarked, 
and  after  being  nearly  swamped  by  the  surf,  once  more  hoisted 
our  sail  on  the  wide  waters  of  the  Atlantic  Ocean. 

We  were  not  destined,  however,  to  encounter  many  daggers 
this  time,  or  to  reach  the  coast  of  South  America:  for  we  had 
not  been  many  hours  at  sea  when  a  vessel  hove  in  sight;  she 
proved  to  be  an  American  privateer  brig,  of  fourteen  guns,  and 
one  hundred  and  thirty  men,  bound  on  a  cruise  oif  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope.  As  soon  as  she  perceived  us,  she  bore  down,  and 
in  half  an  hour  we  were  safe  on  board;  when,  having  bundled 
all  our  little  stock  of  goods  on  her  decks,  the  boat  was  cut 
adrift.  My  men  were 'not  well  treated  until  they  consented  to 
enter   for   the   privateer,'  which,   after   mncli    persuasion   and 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  271 

threats,  they  all  did  except  Thompson,  contrary  to  my  strongest 
remonstrances,  and  urging  every  argurnent  in  my  power  to  dis- 
suiide  them  from  such  a  fatal  step. 

I  remonstrated  with  the  captain  of  the  privateer,  on  what  I 
deemed  a  violation  of  hosiutality.  "  You  found  me,"  I  said, 
"  on  the  wide  ocean,  in  a  frail  boat,  which  some  huge  wave 
might  have  overwhelmed  in  a  moment,  or  some  fish,  in  sport, 
might  have  tossed  in  the  air.  You  received  me  and  my  people 
with  all  the  kindness  and  friendship  which  we  could  desire;  but 
you  mar  it,  by  seducing  the  men  from  their  allegiance  to  their 
lawful  sovereign,  inducing  them  to  become  rebels,  and  subject- 
ing them  to  a  capital  punishment  whenever  they  may  (as  they 
most  probably  will)  fall  into  the  hands  of  their  own  govern- 
ment." 

The  captain,  who  was  an  unpolished,  but  sensible,  clear- 
headed Yankee,  replied,  that  he  was  sorry  I  should  take  any 
thing  ill  of  him;  that  no  affront  was  meant  to  me;  that  he  had 
nothing  whatever  to  do  with  my  men,  until  they  came  volunta- 
rily to  him,  and  entered  for  his  vessel  ;  that  he  could  not  but 
admit,  however,  that  they  might  have  been  persuaded  to  take 
this  step  by  some  of  his  own  people.  "  And  now,  Lifteuant," 
said  he,  "  let  me  ask  you  a  question.  Suppose  you  commanded 
a  British  vessel,  and  ten  or  twelve  of  my  men,  if  I  was  unlucky 
enough  to  be  taken  by  you,  should  volunteer  for  your  ship,  and 
say  they  were  natives  of  Newcastle,  would  you  refuse  them  ? 
Besides,  before  we  went  to  war  witli  you,  you  made  no  cere- 
mony of  taking  men  out  of  our  merchant-ships,  and  even  out  of 
our  ships  of  war,  whenever  you  had  an  opportunity.  Now, 
pray,  where  is  the  difference  between  your  conduct  and  ours  ?" 

I  replied  that  it  would  not  be  very  easy,  nor,  if  it  were,  would 
it  answer  any  good  purpose,  for  us  to  discuss  a  question  that 
had  puzzled  the  wisest  heads  both  in  his  country  and  mine,  for 
the  last  twenty  years  ;  that  my  present  business  was  a  case 
of  its  own,  and  must  be  considered  abstractedly  ;  that  the 
fortune  of  war  had  thrown  me  in  his  power,  and  that  he  had 
made  a  bad  use  of  the  temporary  advantage  of  his  situation,  by 


2t8  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

allowing  my  men,  who,  after  all,  were  poor,  ignorant  creatures, 
to  be  seduced  from  their  duty,  to  desert  their  flag,  and  commit 
high  treason,  by  which  their  lives  were  forfeited,  and  their  fami- 
lies rendered  miserable  ;  that  whatever  might  have  been  the 
conduct  of  his  government  or  mine,  whatever  line  pursued  by 
this  or  that  captain,  no  precedent  could  make  wrong  right  ; 
and  I  left  it  to  himself  (seeing  I  had  no  other  resource)  to 
say,  whether  he  was  doing  as  he  would  be  done  by  ? 

"  As  for  that,"  said  the  captain,  "  we  privateer's  men  don't 
trouble  our  heads  much  about  it ;  wc  always  take  care  of  Num- 
ber One  ;  and  if  your  men  say  they  are  natives  of  Boston,  and 
will  enter  for  my  ship,  I  must  take  them.  Why,"  continued  he, 
"  there  is  your  best  man  Thompson  ;  I'd  lay  a  demijohn  of  old 
Jamaica  rum  that  he  is  a  true-blooded  Yankee,  and  if  he  was 
to  speak  his  mind,  would  sooner  fight  under  the  stripes  than  the 
Union." 

"  D — n  the  dog  that  says  yon  of  Jock  Thompson,"  replied 
the  Caledonian,  who  stood  by.  "I  never  deserted  my  colours 
yet,  and  I  don't  think  I  ever  sliall.  There  is  only  one  piece  of 
advice  I  would  wish  to  give  to  you  and  your  officers,  Captain. 
I  am  a  civil  spoken  man,  and  never  injured  any  soul  breathing, 
except  in  the  way  of  fair  fighting  ;  but  if  either  you,  or  any  of 
your  crew,  offer  to  bribe  me,  or  in  any  way  to  make  me  turn 
my  back  on  my  king  and  country,  I'll  lay  him  on  his  back  as 
flat  as  a  flounder,  if  I  am  able,  and  if  I  am  not  able,  I'll  try 
for  it." 

"  That's  well  spoken,"  said  the  captain,  "  and  I  honour  you 
for  it.  You  may  rely  on  it  that  I  shall  never  tempt  you,  and 
if  any  of  mine  do  it,  they  must  take  their  chance." 

Captain  Green  heard  all  this  conversation ;  he  took  no 
part  in  it  but  walked  the  deck  in  his  usual  pensive  manner. 
When  the  captain  of  Ihe  privateer  went  below  to  work  his 
reckoning,  this  unhap})y  man  entered  into  conversation  with 
me — he  began  by  remarking — 

"  What  a  noble  specimen  of  a  British  sailor  you  have  with 
you." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  2T9 

"  Yes,"  I  replied,  "  he  is  one  of  the  right  sort — he  comes 
from  the  hind  where  the  education  of  the  poor  contributes 
to  the  security  of  the  rich  ;  where  a  man  is  never  thought 
the  worse  of  for  reading  liis  Bible,  and  where  the  generality 
of  tlie  lower  orders  are  brought  up  in  the  honest  simplicity 
of  primitive  Christians." 

"  I  guess,"  said  Green,  "  that  you  have  not  many  such  in 
your  navy." 

"  More  than  you  would  suppose,"  I  replied  "  and  what  will 
astonish  you  is,  that  though  they  are  impressed,  they  seldom, 
if  ever,  desert ;  and  yet  they  are  retained  on  much  lower 
wages  than  those  they  were  taken  from,  or  could  obtain  ;  but 
they  have  a  high  sense  of  moral  and  religious  feeling  which 
keeps  them  to  their  duty." 

"  They  must  needs  be  discontented  for  all  that,"  said  Green. 

"  Not  necessarily  so,"  said  I  :  "  they  derive  many  advan- 
tages from  being  in  the  navy,  which  they  could  not  have 
in  other  employments.  They  have  pensions  for  long  services 
or  wounds,  are  always  taken  care  of  in  their  old  age,  and 
their  widows  and  children  have  much  favour  shown  them, 
by  the  government,  as  well  as  by  other  public  bodies  and 
wealthy  individuals.  But  we  must  finish  this  discussion  an- 
other time,"  continued  I,  "  for  I  perceive  the  dinner  is  going 
into  the  cabin." 

I  received  from  the  captain  of  the  privateer  every  mark 
of  respect  and  kindness  that  his  means  would  allow.  Much 
of  this  I  owed  to  Green,  and  the  black  man  Mungo,  both  of 
whom  had  represented  my  conduct  in  saving  the  life  of  him 
who  had  endangered  mine  and  that  of  all  my  party.  Green's 
gratitude  knew  no  bounds — he  watched  me  night  and  day, 
as  a  mother  would  watch  a  darling  child  ;  he  anticipated 
any  want  or  wish  I  could  have,  and  was  never  hapjjy  until 
it  was  gratified.  The  seamen  on  board  the  vessel  were  all 
equally  kind  and  attentive  to  me,  so  highly  did  they  appreciate 
the  act  of  saving  the  life  of  their  countryman,  and  exposing 
my  own  in  quelling  a  mutiny. 


280  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

We  cruised  to  the  southward  of  the  Cape,  and  made  one 
or  two  captures  ;  but  they  were  of  Uttle  consequence.  One 
of  them,  being  a  trader  from  Mozambique,  was  destroyed  ; 
the  other,  a  slaver  from  Madagascar,  the  captain  knew  not 
what  to  do  with.  He  therefore  took  out  eight  or  ten  of  the 
stoutest  male  negroes,  to  assist  in  working  his  vessel,  and 
then  let  the  prize  go. 


CHAPTER   XX. 

But  who  is  this  ?    Wliat  thing  of  sea 
Comes  this  way  sailing, 
Like  a  stately  ship 

With  all  her  bravery  on,  and  tackle  trim? 

Samson  Agoristes. 

The  privateer  was  called  the  True-blooded  Yankee.  She  was 
first  bound  to  the  island  of  Tristan  D'Acuuha,  where  she 
expected  to  meet  her  consort,  belonging  to  the  same  owners, 
who  had  preceded  her,  when  their  directions  were  to  cruise 
between  the  Cape  and  Madagascar,  for  certain  homeward  bound 
extra  Indiamen,  one  or  two  of  which  she  hoped  would  reward 
all  the  trouble  and  expense  of  the  outfit. 

We  reached  the  island  without  any  material  incident.  I 
had  observed,  with  concern,  that  the  second  mate,  whose  name 
was  Peleg  Oswald,  was  a  sour,  ferocious,  quarrelsome  man  ; 
and  that,  although  I  was  kindly  treated  by  the  captain,  whose 
name  was  Peters,  and  by  the  chief  mate,  whose  name  was 
Methusalem  Solomon,  I  never  could  conciliate  the  good  will 
of  Peleg  Oswald. 

Green,  the  captain,  who  came  with  me,  was,  from  the  time 
]  saved  his  life,  an  altered  man.  He  had  been,  as  I  was 
iiiforraed,  a  drunken  profligate  ;  but  from  the  moment  I  re- 
ceived him  into  the  boat,  his  inaiiners  and  habits  seemed  as 
completely  changed  as  if  he  were  a  different  being.     He  never 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFICER.  281 

drank  more  than  was  sufficient  to  (juencli  liis  thirst — he  never 
swore — he  never  used  any  oflcnsivc  language.  He  read  the 
Scriptures  constantly,  was  regular  in  his  morning  and  evening 
devotion,  and  on  every  occasion  of  quarrel  or  ill-will  in  the 
brig,  which  was  perpetually  occuri'ing.  Green  was  the  umpire 
and  the  peace-maker.  He  saved  the  captain  and  chief  mate 
a  world  of  trouble  ;  by  this  system,  violent  language  became 
uncommon  on  board,  punishment  was  very  rare  and  very  mild. 
The  men  were  hajipy,  and  did  their  duty  with  alacrity. ;  and 
but  for  Peleg  Oswald,  all  would  have  been  harmony. 

We  made  the  island  about  the  15th  of  December,  when 
the  weather  was  such  as  the  season  of  the  year  might  induce 
us  to  expect,  it  being  then  sunmaer.  We  hove  off  to  the  north 
or  windward  side  of  the  island,  about  two  miles  from  the 
shore  ;  we  dared  not  go  nearer  on  that  side,  for  fear  of  what 
arc  called  the  "rollers" — a  phenomenon,  it  would  appear,  of 
terrific  magnitude,  on  that  sequestered  little  spot.  On  this 
extraordinary  operation  of  nature,  many  conjectures  have  been 
offered,  but  no  good  or  satisfactory  reason  has  ever  been 
assigned  to  satisfy  my  mind  ;  for  the  simple  reason,  that  the 
same  causes  would  produce  the  same  efifect  on  St.  Helena, 
Ascension,  or  any  other  island  or  promontory  exposed  to  a 
wide  expanse  of  water.  I  shall  attempt  to  describe  the  scene 
that  a  succession  of  rollers  would  present,  supposing,  what 
has  indeed  happened,  that  a  vessel  is  caught  on  the  coast  when 
coming  in. 

The  water  will  be  perfectly  smooth — not  a  breath  of  wind — 
when,  suddenly,  from  the  north,  comes  rolling  a  huge  wave, 
with  a  glassy  surface,  never  breaking  till  it  meets  the  resist- 
ance of  the  land,  when  it  dashes  down  with  a  noise  and  a 
resistless  violence  that  no  art  or  eifort  of  man  could  elude 
It  is  succeeded  by  others.  No  anchorage  would  hold  if  there 
were  anchorage  to  be  had  ;  but  this  is  not  the  case  ;  thr 
water  is  from  ninety  to  one  hundred  fathoms  deep,  and  con 
sequently  an  anchor  and  cable  could  scarcely  afford  a  momen 
tary  check  to  any  ship  when  thus  assailed  ;  or,  if  it  did,  the 


282  FRAKK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

sea  would,  by  being  resisted,   divide,  break   on   board,  and 

swamp  lier.     Such   was  the  fate  of  the  unfortunate ,  a 

British  sloop  of  war  ;  which,  after  landing  the  captain  and  six 
men,  was  caught  in  the  rollers,  driven  on  shore,  and  every 
creature  on  board  perished,  only  the  captain  and  his  boat's 
crew  escaping.  This  unfortunate  little  vessel  was  lost,  not 
from  want  of  skill  or  seamanship  in  the  captain  or  crew,  for 
a  finer  set  of  men  never  swam  salt  water  ;  but  from  their 
ignorance  of  this  peculiarity  of  the  island,  unknown  in  any 
other  that  I  ever  heard  of,  at  least  to  such  an  alarming  extent. 
Driven  close  into  the  land  before  she  could  find  soundings, 
at  last  she  let  go  three  anchors  ;  but  nothing  could  withstand 
the  force  of  the  "rollers,"  which  drove  her  in  upon  the  beach, 
when  she  broke  in  two  as  soon  as  she  landed,  and  all  hands 
perished  in  sight  of  the  affected  captain  and  his  boat's  crew, 
who  buried  the  bodies  of  their  unfortunate  shipmates  as  soon 
as  the  sea  had  delivered  them  up. 

There  is  another  remarkable  peculiarity  in  this  island;  its 
shores,  to  a  very  considerable  extent  out  to  sea,  are  surrounded 
with  the  plant  called  fucus  maximits,  mentioned  by  Captain 
Cook;  it  grows  to  the  depth  of  sixty  fathoms,  and  reaches  in 
one  long  stem  to  the  surface,  when  it  continues  to  run  along  to 
the  enormous  length  of  three  or  four  hundred  feet,  with  short 
alternate  branches  at  every  foot  of  its  length.  Thus,  in  the 
stormy  ocean,  grows  a  plant,  higher  and  of  greater  length  than 
any  vegetable  production  on  the  surface  of  the  earth,  not  ex- 
cepting the  banian  tree,  which,  as  its  branches  touch  the  ground, 
takes  fresh  root,  and  may  be  said  to  form  a  separate  tree. 
These  marine  plants  resist  the  most  powerful  attacks  of  the 
mightiest  elements  combined;  the  winds  and  the  waves  in  vain 
combine  their  force  against  them ;  uniting  their  foliage  on  the 
bosom  of  the  waters,  they  laugh  at  the  hurricane  and  defy  its 
power.  The  leaves  are  alternate;  and  when  the  wind  ruffles 
tlie  water,  they  flap  over,  one  after  the  other,  with  a  mournful 
sound,  doubly  mournful  to  us  from  the  sad  association  of  ideas, 
and  the  loneliness  of  the  island.     The  branches  or  tendrils  of 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  283 

these  plants  are  so  stronj^  and  buoyant,  when  several  of  thorn 
happen  to  unite,  that  a  boat  cannot  pass  through  them;  I  tried 
with  my  feet  what  pressure  they  would  bear,  and  I  was  con- 
vinced that,  with  a  pair  of  snow-shoes,  a  man  might  walk  over 
them.  , 

Captain  Peters  kindly  invited  me  to  go  on  shore  with  him. 
We  landed  with  much  difficulty,  and  proceeded  to  the  cottage 
of  a  man  who  had  been  left  there  from  choice  :  he  resided  with 
his  family:  and,  in  imitation  of  another  great  personage  on  an 
island  to  the  northward  of  hiin,  styled  himself  "  emperor."  A 
detachment  of  British  soldiers  had  been  sent  from  the  Cape  of 
Good  Hope  to  take  possession  of  this  spot,  but  after  a  time 
they  were  withdrawn. 

His  present  imperial  majesty  had,  at  the  time  of  my  visit,  a 
black  consort,  and  many  snuff-coloured  princes  and  princesses. 
He  was  in  other  respects  a  perfect  Robinson  Crusoe;  he  had  a 
few  head  of  cattle,  and  some  pigs;  these  latter  have  greatly 
multiplied  on  the  island.  Domestic  fowls  were  numerous,  and 
he  had  a  large  piece  of  ground  planted  with  potatoes,  the  only 
place  south  of  the  Equator  which  produces  them  in  their  native 
perfection;  the  land  is  rich,  and  susceptible  of  great  improve- 
ment; and  the  soil  is  intersected  with  numerous  running  springs 
over  its  surface.  But  it  was  impossible  to  look  on  this  lonely 
spot  without  recalling  to  mind  the  beautiful  lines  of  Cowper  : 

"  0  Solitude,  where  are  are  the  charms 
That  Bagea  have  seen  in  thy  face?" 

Yet  in  this  wild  place,  alarms  and  even  rebellion  had  found 
their  way;  the  emperor  had  but  one  subject,  and  this  Caliban 
had  ventured,  in  direct  violation  of  an  imperial  mandate,  to  kill 
a  fowl  for  his  dinner. 

"  Rebellion,"  said  the  enraged  emperor,  "  is  the  son  of 
witchcraft,  and  I  am  determined  to  make  an  example  of  the 
offender." 

I  became  the  mediator  between  these  two  belligerents.     I  • 


284  PRANK    MTl.DMAY  ;    OR, 

represented  to  his  imperial  majesty  that,  as  far  as  the  matter  of 
example  went,  the  severity  would  lose  its  effect,  for  his  children 
were  as  yet  too  young  to  be  corrupted;  and,  moreover,  as  his 
majesty  was  so  well  versed  ia  Scripture,  he  must  know  that  it 
was  his  duty  to  forgive.  "  Besides,"  I  said,  "  her  majesty  the 
queen  has  a  strong  arm,  and  can  always  assist  in  repelling  or 
chastising  any  future  act  of  aggression  or  disobedience."  I 
suspect  that  the  moral  code  of  his  majesty  was  not  unlike  iny 
own  :  it  yielded  to  the  necessities  of  the  time.  He  must  have 
found  it  particularly  inconvenient  not  to  be  on  speaking  terms 
with  his  prime  minister  and  arch  chancellor,  whom  he  had  ban- 
ished to  the  opposite  side  of  the  island  on  pain  of  death.  The 
sentence  was  originally  for  six  months;  but  on  my  intercession 
the  delinquent  was  pardoned  and  restored  to  favour.  I  felt 
much  self-complacency  when  I  reflected  on  this  successful 
instance  of  my  mediatorial  power,  which  had,  perhaps,  smothered 
a  civil  war  in  its  birth. 

The  emperor  informed  me  that  an  American  whaler  was  lying 
at  the  east  side  of  the  island,  filling  with  the  oil  of  the  walrus, 
or  sea-horse;  that  she  had  been  there  at  an  anchor  six  weeks, 
and  was  nearly  full.     I  asked  to  be  shown  the  spot  where  the 

was  wrecked;  he  took  me  to  her  sad  remains.     She  lay 

broken  in  pieces  on  the  rocks;  and  not  far  from  her  was  a 
moand  of  earth,  on  which  was  placed  a  painted  piece  of  board 
by  way  of  a  tombstone.  The  fate  of  the  vessel,  together  with 
the  number  of  sufferers^  were  marked  in  rude  but  concise  char- 
acters. I  do  not  exactly  remember  the  words,  but  in  substance 
it  stated,  that  underneath  lay  the  remains  of  one  hundred  as 
fine  fellows  as  ever  walked  on  a  plank,  and  that  they  had  died, 
like  British  seamen,  doing  their  duty  to  the  last.  This  was  a 
melancholy  sight,  especially  to  a  sailor,  who  knew  not  how  soon 
the  same  fate  awaited  him. 

We  rafted  off  several  casks  of  water  during  that  day,  and  on 
the  following  we  completed  our  water,  and  then  ran  to  the  east 
end  of  the  island  to  wait  for  our  consort,  and  anchor  near  the 
whaler,  the  captain  of  which  had  come  in  his  boat  to^visit  us  : 


i 


THE    NAVAL   OFFICER.  285 

I  conversed  with  hira,  and  was  struck  with  one  remark  which 
he  made. 

"  You  Englishmen  go  to  work  in  a  queerish  kind  of  a  way," 
said  he;  "you  send  a  parcel'  of  soldiers  to  live  on  an  island 
where  none  but  sailors  can  be  of  use.  You  listen  to  all  those 
red-coats  tell  you  :  they  never  thrive  when  placed  out  of  musket- 
shot  from  a  gin-shop  :  and  because  they  don't  like  it,  you  evacu- 
ate the  island.  A  soldier  likes  his  own  comfort,  although  very 
apt  to  destroy  that  of  other  folks;  and  it  a'n't  very  likely  he 
would  go  and  make  a  good  report  of  an  island  that  had  neither 
women  nor  rum,  and  were  he  was  no  better  than  a  prisoner. 
Now,  if  Brother  Jonathan  had  taken  this  island,  I  guess  he 
would  a'  made  it  pay  for  its  keep;  he  would  have  had  two  or 
three  crews  of  whalers,  with  their  wives  and  families,  and  all 
their  little  comforts  about  them,  with  a  party  of  good  farmers 
to  till  the  land,  and  an  officer  to  command  the  whole.  The 
island  can  provide  itself  as  you  may  })erceive,  and  all  would 
have  gone  on  well.  It  is  just  as  easy  to  '  fish '  the  island  from 
the  shore  as  it  is  in  a  vessel,  and,  indeed,  much  easier.  Only 
land  your  boilers  and  casks,  and  a  couple  of  dozen  of  good 
whaleboats,  and  this  island  would  produce  a  revenue  that  would 
repay  with  profit  all  the  money  laid  out  upon  it,  for  the  sea- 
horses have  no  other  place  to  go  to,  either  to  shed  their  coats 
in  the  autumn,  or  to  bring  forth  their  young  in  the  spring.  The 
fishing  and  other  duties  would  bo  a  source  of  amusement  to  the 
sailors,  who,  if  they  chose,  might  return  home  occasionally  in 
the  vessels  that  came  to  take  away  the  full  casks  of  oil  and 
land  the  empty  ones." 

The  captain  of  the  whaler  returned  to  his  ship,  but,  I  sup- 
pose, forgot  to  give  our  captain  very  particular  directions  about 
the  anchorage.  We  ran  down  to  the  east  end  of  the  island, 
and  were  just  going  to  bring  up,  when,  supposing  himself  too 
near  the  whaler,  Peters,  chose  to  run  a  little  farther.  I  should 
have  observed,  that  as  we  rounded  the  north-east  point,  the 
breeze  freshened,  and  the  squalls  came  heavy  out  of  the  gullies 
and  deep  ravines.     We  therefore  shortened  sail,  and,  i>assing 


286  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

very  near  the  whaler,  they  hailed  us  ;  but  it  blew  so  fresh  that 
we  did  not  hear  what  they  said  ;  and,  having  increased  our 
distance  from  the  whaler  to  what  was  judged  proper,  let  go 
the  anchor. 

Ninety  fathoms  of  cable  ran  out  in  a  crack,  before  she  turned 
head  to  wind  ;  and  to  our  mortification,  we  found  we  had 
passed  the  bank  upon  whicli  the  whaler  had  brought  up,  and 
must  have  dropped  our  anchor  into  a  well,  for  we  had  nineteen 
fathoms  of  water  under  the  bows,  and  only  seven  fathoms  under 
the  stern.  The  moon  showed  her  face  just  at  this  moment,  and 
we  had  the  farther  satisfaction  of  perceiving  that  we  were 
within  fifty  yards  of  a  reef  of  rocks  which  lay  astern  of  us,  with 
their  dirty  black  heads  above  water. 

We  were  very  much  surprised  to  find,  notwithstanding  the 
depth  of  water,  that,  during  the  lulls,  we  rode  with  a  slack 
cable  ;  but  about  two  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  cable  parted, 
being  cut  by  the  foul  ground.  All  sail  was  made  immediately, 
but  the  rocks  astern  were  so  close  to  us,  that  you  might  have 
thrown  a  biscuit  on  them,  and  we  thought  the  cruise  of  the 
True-blooded  Yankee  was  at  an  end  ,'  but  it  proved  otherwise, 
for  the  same  cause  which  produced  the  slack  cable  preserved 
the  vessel.  The  fucus  maximus  we  found-had  interposed  between 
us  and  destruction  ;  we  let  go  our  anchor  in  this  submarine 
forest,  and  had  perched,  as  it  were,  on  the  tops  of  the  trees  ; 
and  so  thick  were  the  leaves  and  branches,  that  they  held  us 
from  driving,  and  prevented  our  going  on  shore  when  the  cable 
had  parted.  We  dragged  slowly  through  the  plants,  and  were 
very  glad  to  see  ourselves  once  more  clear  of  this  miserable 
spot. 

"  Better  dwell  in  the  midst  of  alarms, 
Than  reign  in  this  horrible  place." 

But  I  sincerely  wish  all  maimer  of  success  to  this  little  empire, 
though  1  hope  my  evil  stars  will  never  take  me  to  it  again. 
We  shaped  our  course  for  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope,  for  Captain 
Peters  would  not  run  farther  risk  in  waiting  for  the  consort 
privateer  • 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  287 

Poor  Thompson  notwithstanding  all  my  exertions  in  his 
favour,  was  exposed  to  much  ill  treatment  on  board  the  vessel 
on  account  of  his  firm  and  unshaken  loyalty.  He  seldom  com- 
plained to  me,  but  sometimes  vindicated  himself  by  a  g-entle 
hint  from  one  of  his  ample  fists  on  the  nose  or  eye  of  the  offen- 
der, and  here  the  matter  usually  ended,  for  his  character  was 
so  simple  and  inoffensive,  that  all  the  best  men  in  the  vessel 
loved  him.  One  night,  a  man  fell  overboard — the  weather  was 
fine,  and  the  brig  had  but  little  way  ;  they  were  lowering  down 
the  jolly  boat  from  the  stern,  when  one  of  the  hooks  by  which 
she  hung  by  the  stern  broke,  and  four  men  were  precipitated 
with  violence  into  the  water.  Two  of  them  could  not  swim, 
and  all  screamed  loudly  for  help  as  soon  as  they  came  up  fi'om 
their  dive.  Thompson,  seeing  this,  darted  from  the  stern  like 
a  Newfoundland  dog,  swam  to  the  weakest,  supported  hira  to 
the  rudder  chains,  and,  leaving  him,  went  to  another,  bringiug 
him  to  the  stern  of  the  vessel,  and  making  a  rope  fiist  under 
his  arms.  In  this  way  he  succeeded  in  saving  the  whole  of  "these 
poor  fellows.  Two  of  the  five  would  certainly  have  sunk  but 
for  his  timely  assistance,  for  they  were  some  time  before 
another  boat  could  be  got  ready  ;  and  the  other  three  owned 
that  they  much  doubted  whether  they  could  have  reached  the 
vessel  without  help. 

This  conduct  of  Thompson  was  mucli  applauded  by  all  on 
board,  and  some  asked  him  why  he  ventured  his  life  for  people 
who  had  used  him  so  ill  ;  he  answered,  that  his  mithir  and  his 
Bible  had  taught  him  to  do  all  the  good  he  could  ;  and  as  God 
had  given  him  a  strong  arm,  he  hoped  he  should  always  use  it 
for  the  benefit  of  his  brother  in  need. 

It  might  have  been  supposed  that  an  act  like  like  this  would 
have  prevented  the  recurrence  of  any  farther  insult ;  but  the 
more  the  Americans  perceived  Thompson's  value,  the  more 
eager  were  tlwy  to  have  him  as  their  own.  The  second  mate, 
"whom  I  have  already  described  as  a  rough  and  brutal  fellow, 
one  day  proposed  to  him  to  belong  to  their  vessel,  certain,  he 


288  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

added,  that  he  would  make  his  fortune  by  the  capture  of  two, 
if  uot  three,  extra  ludiamen,  which  they  had  informatiou  of  on 
their  passage. 

Thompson  looked  the  man  full  in  the  face,  and  said,  "Did  ye 
no  hear  what  I  telled  the  captain  the  ither  day  ?" 

"Yes,"  said  the  man,  "  I  knew  that,  but  that's  what  we  call 
in  our  country  '  all  my  eye.' " 

"  But  they  do  not  call  it  so  in  my  country,"  said  the  Caledo- 
nian, at  the  same  time  planting  his  fist  so  full  and  plump  in  the 
left  eye  of  the  mate,  that  he  fell  like  the  "  humi  Jos,". covering 
a  very  large  part  of  the  deck  with  his  huge  carcass. 

The  man  got  up,  found  his  face  bleeding  plentifully,  and  his 
eye  closed  ;  but  instead  of  resenting  the  insult  himself,  went 
off  and  complained  to  the  captain.  Many  of  the  Americans, 
either  from  hatred  or  jealousy,  went  along  with  him,  and  clam- 
orously demanded  that  the  Englishman  should  be  punished  for 
striking  an  officer.  When  the  story,  however,  came  to  be 
fairly  explained,  the  captain  said  he  was  bound  to  confess  that 
the  second  mate  was  the  aggressor,  inasmuch  as  he  acknowl- 
edged that  he  knew  the  penalty  of  the  transgression  before  he 
committed  the  act  ;  that  he  (the  captain)  had  told  Thompson, 
when  he  made  the  declaration,  that  he  thought  him  perfectly 
right,  and  consequently,  he  was  bound  to  protect  him  by  every 
law  of  hospitality  as  well  as  gratitude,  after  his  services  in 
saving  the  lives  of  their  countrymen. 

This  did  not  satisfy  the  crew  ;  they  were  clamorous  for 
punishment,  and  a  mutiny  was  actually  headed  by  the  second 
mate.  Thci'e  was,  howevei",  a  large  party  on  board  who  were 
jn  no  humour  to  see  an  Euglishman  treated  with  such  indignity. 
Of  what  country  they  were  may  readily  be  conjectured.  The 
dispute  ran  high  ;  and  I  began  to  think  that  serious  conse- 
quences might  ensue,  for  it  had  continued  from  the  serving  of 
grog  at  twelve  o'clock  till  near  two  ;  when  casting  my  eyes 
over  the  larboard  quarter,  I  perceived  a  sail,  and  told  the  cap- 
tain of  it ;  he  instantly  hailed  the  look-out  man  at  the  mast- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  289 

head  ;  but  the  look-ont  man  had  beea  so  much  interested  with 
what  was  going  on  upon  deck,  that  he  had  come  down  into  the 
main-top  to  Usten. 

"  Don't  you  see  that  sail  on  the  larboard  quarter  ?"  said  the 
captain, 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  the  man. 

"  And  why  did  you  not  report  her  ?" 

The  man  could  make  no  reply  to  this  question,  for  a  very 
obvious  reason. 

"  Come  dowu  here,"  said  the  captain  ;  "let  him  be  released, 
Solomon  ;  we  will  show  you  a  little  Yankee  discipline." 

But  before  we  proceed  to  the  investigation  of  the  crime,  or  the 
infliction  of  punishment,  we  must  turn  our  eyes  to  the  great 
object  which  rose  clearer  and  clearer  every  five  minutes  above 
the  horizon.  The  privateer  was  at  this  time  under  top-sails,  and 
top-gallant-sails,  jib,  and  fore-sail,  running  to  the  north-east, 
with  a  fine  breeze  and  smooth  water. 

"  Leftenant,"  said  the  captain,  "  what  do  you  think  of 
her  ?" 

"  I  think,"  said  I,  "  that  she  is  an  extra  Indiaman,  and  if 
you  mean  to  speak  her,  you  had  better  put  your  head  towards 
lier  under  an  easy  sail  :  by  which  means  you  will  be  so  near 
by  sunset,  that  if  she  runs  from  you,  you  will  be  able,  with 
your  superior  sailing,  to  keep  sight  of  her  all  night." 

"  I  guess  you  are  not  far  wrong  in  that,"  said  the  cap- 
tain. -  , 

"  I  guess  he  is  directly  in  the  face  of  the  truth,"  said  the 
chief  mate,  who  had  just  returned  from  the  main-top,  where  he 
had  spent  the  last  quarter  of  an  hour  in  the  most  intense  and 
absorbed  attention  to  the  cut  of  the  stranger's  sails.  "  If  e'er 
I  saw  wood  and  canvass  put  together  before  in  the  shape  of  a 
ship,  that  there  is  one  of  John  Bull's  bellowing  calves  of  the 
ocean,  and  not  less  than  a  forty-four  gunner." 

"  What  say  you  to  that,  leftenant  ?"  said  the  captain. 

"  Oh,  as  to  that,"  said  the  mate,  "  it  isn't  very  likely  that  he's 
going  to  tell  us  the  truth." 

13 


290  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  Because  you  would  not  have  done  it  jourself  in  the  same 
situation,"  said  I. 

"Just  so,"  said  the  mate. 

And  in  fact,  I  must  own  that  I  had  no  particular  wish  to 
«ruise  for  some  months  in  this  vessel,  and  go  back  for  water  at 
Tristan  d'Acunha.  I  therefore  did  not  use  my  very  best  optical 
skill  when  I  gave  my  opinion  ;  but  as  I  saw  the  stranger  was 
Hearing  us  very  fast,  although  we  were  steering  the  same  way, 
I  made  my  mind  up  that  I  should  very  soon  be  out  of  this  ves- 
sel, and  on  my  way  to  England,  where  all  my  happiness  and 
prospects  were  centred. 

The  chief  mate  took  one  more  leok — the  captain  followed  his 
example  ;  they  then  looked  at  each  other,  and  pronounced 
their  cruise  at  an  end. 

"  We  are  done,  sir,"  said  the  mate  ;  and  all  owing  to  that 
d— d  English  renegado  that  you  would  enter  on  the  books  as 
one  of  the  ship's  company.  But  let's  have  him  aft,  and  give 
him  his  discharge  regularly." 

"  First  of  all,"  said  the  captain,  "  suppose  we  try  what  is  to 
be  done  with  our  heels.  They  used  to  be  good,  and  T  never 
saw  the  brass-bottomed  sarpent  that  could  come  near  us  yet. 
Send  the  royal-yards  up — clear  away  the  studding-sails — keep 
her  with  the  wind  just  two  points  abaft  the  beam,  that's  her 
favourite  position  :  and  I  think  we  may  give  the  slip  to  that 
old-country  devil  in  the  course  of  the  night." 

I  said  nothing,  but  looked  very  attentively  to  all  that  was . 
doing.     The  vessel  was  well  manned,  certainly,  and  all  sail  was 
set  upon  her  in  a  very  expeditious  manner. 

"  Heave  the  log,"  said  the  captain. 

They  did  so  ;  and  she  was  going,  by  their  measurement,  nine 
and  six. 

"  What  do  you  think  your  ship  is  doing  ?"  said  the  captain 
to  me. 

"  I  think,"  said  I,  "  she  is  going  about  eleven  knots  ;  and  as 
she  is  six  miles  astern  of  you,  that  she  will  be  within  gun-shot 
in  less  than  four  hours." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  291 

"  Part  of  that  time  shall  be  spent  in  paying  our  debts  for 
this  favour,"  said  the  captain.  Mr.  Solomon,  let  them  seize 
that  no-nation  rascal  up  to  the  main  rigging,  and  hand  up  two 
of  your  most  hungry  cats.  Where  is  Dick  Twist,  he  that  was 
boatswain's  mate  of  the  Statira  ;  and  that  red-haired  fellow,  you 
know,  that  swam  away  from  the  Maidstone  in  the  Rappalianock. 

"  You  mean  carroty  Sara,  I  guess — pass  the  word  for  Sam 
Gall" 

The  two  operators  soon  appeared,  each  armed  with  the  instru- 
ments of  his  ofl&ce  ;  and  I  must  say  that,  in  malignity  of  con- 
struction, they  were  equal  to  any  thing  used  on  similar  occasions 
even  by  Captain  G .  The  culprit  was  now  brought  for- 
ward, and  to  my  surprise  it  was  the  very  man  whom  Thompson, 
when  in  the  boat,  had  thrown  overboard  for  mutiny.  I  can- 
not say  that  I  felt  sorry  for  the  cause  or  the  effect  that  was 
likely  to  be  produced  by  the  disputes  of  the  day. 

"  Seize  him  up,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  you  were  sent  to  the 
mast-head  in  your  regular  turn  of  duty  ;  and  you  have  neglected 
that  duty,  by  wliich  means  we  are  likely  to  be  takeu  :  so,  before 
my  authority  ceases,  I  will  show  you  a  Yankee  trick." 

"  I  am  an  Englishman,"  said  the  man,  "  and  appeal  to  my 
officer  for  protection." 

The  captain  looked  at  me. 

"If  I  am  the  officer  you  appeal  to,"  said  I,  "I  do  not 
acknowledge  you  ;  you  threw  off  your  allegiance  when  you 
thought  it  suited  your  purpose,  and  you  now  wish  to  resume  it 
to  screen  yourself  fi"om  a  punishment  which  you  richly  deserve. 
I  shall  certainly  not  interfere  in  your  favour." 

"I  was  born,"  roared  the  cockney,  "in  Earl-street,  Seven 
Dials — my  mother  keeps  a  tripe-sho]3 — I  am  a  true-born  Briton, 
and  you  have  no  right  to  flog  me." 

"  You  was  a  Yankee  sailor  from  New  London  yesterday,  and 
you  are  a  tripe  seller  from  old  London  to-day.  I  think  I  am 
right  in  calling  you  a  no-nation  rascal,  but  we  will  talk  about 
the  right  another  time,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  meanwhile,  Dick 
Twist,  do  you  begin." 


292  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

Twist  obeyed  his  orders  with  skill  and  accuracy  ;  and  having 
given  the  prisoner  three  dozen,  that  would  not  have  disgraced 
the  legerdemain  of  my  friend  the  Farnese  Hercules  in  the  brig, 
Sam  Gall  was  desired  to  take  his  turn.  Sam  acquitted  himself 
a  merveilh  with  the  like  number  ;  and  the  prisoner,  after  a  due 
proportion  of  bellowing,  was  cast  loose.  I  could  not  help  re- 
flecting how  how  very  justly  this  captain  had  got  his  vessel  in 
jeopardy,  by  first  allowing  a  man  to  be  seduced  from  his  alle- 
giance, and  then  placing  confidence  in  him. 

"  Let  us  now  take  a  look  at  the  chase,"  said  the  captain  ; 
"  zounds,  she  draws  up  with  us.  I  can  see  her  bowsprit-cap 
VFhen  she  lifts  ;  and  half  an  hour  ago  I  only  saw  her  fore-yard. 
Cut  away  the  jolly-boat  from  the  stern,  Solomon." 

The  chief  mate  took  a  small  axe,  and,  with  a  steady  blow  at 
the  end  of  each  davit,  divided  the  falls,  and  the  boat  fell  into 
the  sea. 

"  Throw  these  here  two  aftermost  guns  overboard,"  said  the 
captain  ;  "  I  guess  we  are  too  deep  abaft,  and  they  would  not 
be  of  much  use  to  us  in  the  way  of  defence,  for  this  is  a  wapper 
that's  after  us." 

The  guns  in  a  few  minutes  were  sent  to  their  last  rest ;  and 
for  the  next  half  hour  the  enemy  gained  less  upon  them.  It 
was  now  about  half-past  three,  p.  m.  ;  the  courage  of  the 
Yankees  revived  ;  and  the  second-mate  reminded  the  captain 
that  his  black  eye  had  not  been  reckoned  'for  at  the  main- 
rigging. 

"Nor  shall  it  be,"  said  the  captain,  "  while  I  command  the 
True-blooded  Yankee  ;  what  is,  is  right ;  no  man  shall  be  pun- 
ished for  fair  defence  after  warning.  Thompson,  come  and 
stand  aft." 

The  man  was  in  the  act  of  obeying  this  order,  when  he  was 
seized  on  by  some  six  or  eight  of  the  most  turbulent,  who  began 
to  tear  off  his  jacket. 

"  Avast,  there,  shipmates  !"  said  Twist  and  Gall,  both  in  a 
breath.  "  We  don't  mind  touching  up  such  a  chap  as  this  here 
tripcraan  ;  but  not  the  scratch  of  a  pin  does  Thompson  get  in 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICF.R.  293 

tliis  vessel.  He  is  one  of  us  ;  he  is  a  seaman  every  inch  of 
him,  and  you  must  flog  us,  and  some  fifty  more,  if  you  once 
begin  ;  far  d — n  ray  eyes  if  we  don't  heave  the  log  with 
the  secoiul-mate,  and  then  lay-to  till  the  frigate  comes  along- 
side." 

The  mutineers  stood  aghast  for  a  few  seconds  ;  but  the 
second-mate,  jumping  on  a  gun,  called  out, 

"  Who's  of  our  side  ?  Are  we  going  to  be  bullied  by  these 
d— d  Britishers  ?" 

"  You  are,"  said  I,  "  if  doing  an  act  of  justice  is  bullying. 
You  are  in  great  danger,  and  I  warn  you  of  it.  I  perceive  the 
force  of  those  whom  you  pretend  to  call  Americans  ;  and 
though  I  am  the  last  man  in  the  world  to  sanction  an  act  of 
treachery  by  heaving  the  ship  to,  yet  I  caution  you  to  beware 
how  you  provoke  tlie  bull-dog,  who  has  only  broken  his  master's 
chain  '  for  a  lark,'  and  is  ready  to  return  to  him.  I  am  your 
guest,  and  therefore  your  faithful  friend  ;  use  your  utmost 
endeavours  to  escape  from  your  enemy.  I  know  what  she  is, 
for  I  know  her  well  ;  and  if  I  am  not  much  mistaken,  you  have 
scarcely  more  time,  with  all  your  exertions,  than  to  pack  up 
your  things  ;  for,  be  assured,  you  will  not  pass  twelve  hours 
more  under  your  own  flag." 

This  address  had  a  tranquiUizing  efi'ect.  The  captain.  Cap- 
tain Green,  and  Solomon,  walked  aft ;  and,  to  their  great  dis- 
may, saw  distinctly  the  water-line  of  the  pursuing  frigate. 

"  What  can  be  done  ?"  said  the  captain  ;  "  she  has  gained  on 
us  in  this  manner,  while  the  people  were  all  aft  settling  that 
infernal  dispute.  Throw  two  more  of  the  after  guns  over- 
board." 

This  order  was  obeyed  with  the  same  celerity  as  the  former, 
but  not  with  the  same  success.  The  captain  now  began  to 
perceive,  what  was  pretty  obvious  to  me  before,  namely,  that 
by  dropping  the  boat  from  the  extreme  end  of  the  vessel,  where 
it  hung  like  the  pea  on  the  steel-yard,  he  did  good  ;  the  light- 
ening her  also  of  the  two  aftermost  guns,  hanging  over  the 
dead  wood  of  the  vessel,  were  in  like  manner  serviceable.     But 


294  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

here  he  should  have  stopped  ;  the  effect  of  throwing  the  next 
two  guns  overboard  was  pernicious.  The  vessel  fell  by  tlie 
head  ;  her  stern  was  out  of  the  water  ;  she  steered  wild, 
yawed,  and  decreased  in  her  rate  of  sailing  in  a  surprising 
manner. 

"  Cut  away  the  bower  anchors,"  said  the  captain. 

The  stojDpers  were  cut,  and  the  anchors  dropped  ;  the  brig 
immediately  recovered  herself  from  her  oppression,  as  it  w'ere, 
and  resumed  her  former  velocity  ;  but  the  enemy  had  by  this 
time  made  fearful  approaches.  The  only  hope  of  the  captain 
and  his  crew  was  in  the  darkness  ;  and  as  this  darkness  came 
on  my  spirits  decreased,  for  I  greatly  feared  that  we  should  have 
escaped.  The  sun  had  sunk  some  time  below  the  horizon  ;  the 
cloud  of  sail  coming  up  astern  of  us  began  to  be  indistinct,  and 
at  last  disappeared  altogether  in  a  black  squall :  we  saw  no 
more  of  her  for  nearly  two  hours. 

I  walked  the  deck  with  Green  and  the  captain.  The  latter 
seemed  in  great  perturbation  ;  he  had  hoped  to  make  his  for- 
tune, and  retire  from  the  toils  and  cares  of  a  sea-life  in  some 
snug  corner  of  the  Western  settlements,  where  he  might  culti- 
vate a  Uttle  farm,  and  lead  the  life  of  an  honest  man ;  "  for  this 
life,"  said  he,  "I  am  free  to  confess,  is,  after  all,  little  better 
than  highway  robbery." 

Whether  the  moral  essay  of  the  captain  was  the  effect  of  his 
present  danger,  I  will  not  pretend  to  say.  I  only  know,  that  if 
the  reader  will  turn  back  to  some  parts  of  my  history,  he 
will  find  me  very  often  in  a  similar  mood,  on  similar  occasions. 

The  two  captains  and  the  chief-mate  now  retired,  after  leav- 
ing me  meditating  by  myself  over  the  larboard  gunwale,  just 
before  the  main-rigging.  The  consultation  seemed  to  be  of 
great  moment  ;  and,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  was  to  decide 
what  course  they  should  steer,  seeing  that  they  evidently  lost 
sight  of  their  pursuer.  I  felt  all  my  hopes  of  release  vanish 
as  I  looked  at  them,  and  had  made  up  my  mind  to  go  to  New 
York. 

At  this  moment,  a  man  came  behind  me,  as  if  to  get  a  pull 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  295 

at  the  top-gallant  sheets  ;  and  while  he  hung  down  upon  it 
with  a  kind  of  "yeo-ho,"  he  whispered  in  my  ear — "  You  may 
have  the  connnaud  of  the  brig  if  you  like.  We  are  fifty  Eug 
lishmen — we  will  heave  her  to,  and  hoist  a  light,  if  you  will  only 
say  the  word,  and  promise  us  our  free  pardoQ." 

I  pretended  at  first  not  to  hear,  but,  turning  round,  I  saw 
Mr.  Twist. 

"  Hold,  villain  !"  said  I  ;  "do  you  think  to  redeem  one  act 
of  treachery  by  another  ?  and  do  you  dare  to  insult  the  honour 
of  a  naval  officer  with  a  j^roposal  so  infamous  ?  Go  to  your 
station  instantly,  and  think  yourself  fortunate  that  I  do  not 
denounce  you  to  the  captain,  who  has  a  perfect  right  to  throw 
you  overboard — a  fate  which  your  chain  of  crimes  fully 
deserves." 

The  man  skulked  away,  and  I  went  off  to  the  captain,  to 
whom  I  related  the  circumstance,  desiring  him  to  be  on  his 
guard  against  treachery. 

"  Your  conduct,  sir,"  said  the  captain,  "  is  what  I  should 
have  expected  from  a  British  naval  officer  ;  and  since  you  have 
behaved  so  honourably,  I  will  freely  tell  you  that  my  intention 
is  to  shorten  sail  to  the  topsails  and  foresail,  and  haul  dead  on 
a  wind  into  that  dark  squall  to  the  southward." 

"  As  you  please,"  said  I  ;  "  you  cannot  expect,  that  I 
should  advise,  nor  would  you  believe  me  if  I  said  I  wished 
you  success  ;  but  rely  on  it  I  will  resist,  by  every  means  in 
my  power,  any  unfair  means  to  dispossess  you  of  your  com- 
mand." 

"  I  thank  you,  su","  said  the  captain,  mournfully  ;  and 
without  losing  any  more  time  in  useless  words,  "  Shorten  sail 
there,"  continued  he,  with  a  low  but  firm  voice  ;  "  take  in  the 
lower  and  topmast  studdiugrsail — hands  aloft — in  top-gallant 
studding-sails,  and  roll  up  the  top-gallant-sails." 

All  this  appeared  to  be  done  with  surprising  speed,  even  to 
me  who  had  been  accustomed  to  very  well  conducted  ships  of 
war.  One  mistake,  however,  was  made  :  the  lower  studding- 
sail,  instead  of  being  hauled  in  on  deck,  was  let  to  fall  over- 


296  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

board,  and  towed  some  time  under  the  larboard  bow  before  it 
was  reported  to  the  officers. 

"  Haul  in  the  .larboard  braces — brace  sharp  up— port  the 
helm,  and  bring  her  to  the  wind,  quarter-master." 

"  Port,  it  is,  sir,"  said  the  man  at  the  helm,  and  the  vessel 
was  close  hauled  upon  the  starboard  tack;  but  she  did  not  seem 
to  move  very  fast,  although  she  had  a  square  mainsail,  boom 
mainsail,  and  jib. 

"  I  think  we  have  done  them  at  last,"  said  the  captain  ;  "  what 
do  you  think,  leftenant  ?"  giving  me  a  hearty  but  very  friendly 
slap  on  the  "back.  "  Come,  what  say  you  ?  shall  we  take  a 
cool  bottle  of  London  particular  after  the  fatigues  of  the  day  ?" 

"  Wait  a  little,"  said  I,  "  wait  a  little." 

"  What  are  you  looking  at  there  to  windward  ?"  said  the 
captain,  who  perceived  that  my  eye  was  fixed  on  a  particular 
point. 

Before  I  had  time  to  answer,  Thompson  came  up  to  me,  and 
said,  "  There  is  the  ship,  sir,"  pointing  to  the  very  spot  on 
which  I  was  gazing.  The  captain  heard  this  ;  and,  as  fear  is 
ever  quick-sighted,  he  instantly  caught  the  object. 

"  Running  is  of  no  use  now,"  said  he  ;  "we  have  tried  her 
off  the  wind,  our  best  going  ;  she  beats  us  at  that ;  and  on 
the  wind,  I  don't  think  so  much  of  her  ;  but  still,  with  this 
smooth  water  and  fine  breeze,  she  ought  to  move  better. 
Solomon,  there  is  something  wrong,  give  a  look  all  around." 

Solomon  went  forward  on  the  starboard  side,  but  saw 
nothing.  As  he  looked  over  the  gangway  and  bow,  coming 
round  to  the  lee  side  of  the  forecastle,  he  saw  some  canvas 
hanging  on  one  of  the  night-heads — "  What  have  we  here  ?" 
said  he.  No  one  answered.  He  looked  over  the  forechains, 
and  found  the  whole  lower  studding-sail  towing  in  the  water. 

"'So  wonder  she  don't  move,"  said  the  mate;  "here  is 
enough  to  stop  the  Constitution  herself.  Who  took  iu  this 
here  lower  studding-sail  ? — But,  never  mind,  we'll  settle  that 
to-morrow.     Come  over  here,  you  forecastle  men." 

Some  of  the  Americans  came  over  to  him,  but  not  with  very 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  297 

great  alacrity  The  sail  could  uot  be  pulled  in,  as  the  vessel 
had  too  much  way;  and  while  they  were  ineffectually  employed 
aljout  it,  the  flash  of  a  gun  was  seen  to  windward  ;  and  as 
the  report  reached  our  ears,  the  shot  whistled  over  our  heads, 
and  dai'ted  like  lightning  through  the  boom  mainsail. 

"  Hurrah  for  old  England,"  said  Thompson  ;  "  the  fellow 
that  fired  that  shot  shall  drink  my,  allowance  of  grog  to-mor- 
row." 

"  Hold  your  tongue,  you  d — d  English  rascal,"  said  the 
second  mate,  "  or  I'll  stop  your  grog  for  ever." 

"I  don't  think  you  will,"  said  the  North  Briton;  "  and  if  you 
take  a  friend's  advice,  you  won't  try."  Thompson  was  standing 
on  the  little  round-house  or  poop  ;  the  indignant  mate  jumped 
up,  and  collared  him.  Thompson  disengaged  hmi  in  the 
twinkling  of  an  eye,  and  with  one  blow  of  his  right  hand  in 
the  pit  of  the  man's  stomach,  sent  him  reeling  over  to  leeward. 
He  fell — caught  at  the  boom  sheet — missed  it,  and  tumbled 
into  the  sea,  from  whence  he  rose  no  more. 

All  was  now  confusion.  "  A  man  overboard  !" — another 
shot  from  the  frigate — another  and  another  in  l[uick  succession. 
The  fate  of  the  man  was  forgotten  in  the  general  panic.  One 
shot  cut  the  aftermost  main-shroud  ;  another  wTut  tlirough  the 
boat  on  the  booms.  The  frigate  was  evidently  very  near  us. 
The  men  all  rushed  down  to  seize  their  bags  and  chests  ;  the 
captain  took  me  by  the  hand,  and  said,  "  Sir,  I  surrender 
myself  to  you,  and  give  you  leave  now  to  act  as  you  think 
proper." 

"Thompson,"  said  I,  "let  go  the  main-sheet  and  the  main- 
brace."  Running  forwar^l  myself,  I  let  go  the  main-tack,  and 
bowlines  :  the  main-yard  came  square  of  itself.  Tliorapson  got 
a  lantern,  which  he  held  up  on  the  starboard-quarter. 

The  frigate  passed  close  under  the  stern,  showing  a  beautiful 
jtale  side,  with  a  fine  tier  of  guns,  and  hailing  us,  desired  to 
know  what  vessel  it  was. 

I  replied,  that  it  was  the  True-blooded  Yankee,  of  Boston — 
that  she  had  hove-to  and  surrendered. 

13* 


298  PRANK    MILDMAY  :    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXI. 

"  It  is  not,"  Bays  Blake,  "  the  business  of  a  seaman  to  mind  state  affairs,  but  to 
hinder  foreigners  from  fooling  us." 

Dr.  Johnson's  Life  of  Blaks. 

The  frigate  came  to  the  wind  close  under  our  lee,  and  a  boat 
from  her  was  alongside  in  a  very  few  minutes.  The  officer  who 
came  to  take  possession,  leaped  up  the  side,  and  was  on  the  deck 
in  a  moment.  I  received  him,  told  him  in  a  few  words  what 
the  vessel  was,  introducing  the  captain  and  Green,  both  of  whom 
I  recommended  to  his  particular  notice  and  attention,  for  the 
kindness  they  had  shown  to  me.  I  then  requested  he  would 
walk  down  into  the  cabin,  leaving  a  midshipman  whom  he 
brought  with  him  in  charge  of  the  deck,  and  whom,  in  the 
meanwhile,  he  directed  to  haul  the  mainsail  up,  and  make  the 
vessel  snug.  The  prisoners  were  desired  to  pack  up  their 
things,  and  be  ready  to  quit  in  one  hour. 

When  lights  were  brought  into  the  cabin,  the  lieutenant  and 
myself  instantly  recognised  each  other. 

"Bless  my  soul,  Frank,"  said  he,  "  what  brought  you  here  V 

"  That,"  said  I,  "  is  rather  a  longer  story  than  could  be  con- 
veniently told  before  to-morrow  ;  but  may  I  ask  what  ship  has 

taken  the  Yankee  ?     I  conclude  it  is  the  R ;  and  what 

rank  does  friend  Talbot  hold  in  her  ?" 

"The  frigate,"  said  he,  "is  the  R ,  as  you  conjectured. 

We  are  on  the  Cape  station.  I  am  first  of  her,  and  sent  out 
here  on  promotion  for  the  affair  of  Basque  Roads." 

"  Hard,  indeed,"  said  I,  "  that  you  should  have  waited  so 
long  for  what  you  so  nobly  earned;  but  come,  we  have  much  to 
do.  Let  us  look  to  the  prisoners,  and  if  you  will  return  on 
board,  taking  with  you  the  captain,  mate,  and  a  few  of  the 
hands,  whom  I  will  select,  as  the  most  troublesome,  and  the  most 
careless,  I  will  do  all  I  can  to  have  the  prize  ready  for  making 

sail  by  day-light,  when,  if  Captain  T will  give  me  leave, 

I  will  wait  on  him." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  299 

This  was  agreed  to.  The  people  wliom  I  pointed  out  were 
j.ut  into  the  boat,  four  of  whose  crew  came  aboard  the  brig  to 
assist  me.  AVc  soon  arranged  every  thing,  so  as  to  be  ready 
ior  wliatever  might  be  required.  A  boat  returned  with  a  fresh 
supply  of  hands,  taking  back  about  twenty  more  prisoners  ; 
and  the  midshipman,  wlio  brought  them,  deUvered  also  a  civil 
message  from  the  captain,  to  say,  he  was  glad  to  have  the  prize 
in  such  good  liands,  and  would  expect  me  to  breakfast  with 
Iiim  at  eight  o'clock;  in  the  mean  time,  he  desired,  that  as  soon 
as  I  was  ready  to  make  sail,  I  should  signify  the  same  by  show- 
two  lights  at  the  same  height  in  the  main-rigging,  and  that  we 
should  then  keep  on  a  wind  to  the  northward  under  a  plain 
sail. 

This  was  completed  by  four,  a.m.,  when  we  made  the  signal, 
and  kept  on  the  weather  quarter  of  the  frigate.  I  took  a 
couple  of  hours'  sleep,  was  called  at  six,  dressed  myself,  and  pre- 
pared to  go  on  board  at  half  past  seven.  I  heard  her  drum  and 
life  beat  to  quarters,  the  sweetest  music  next  to  the  heavenly 
voice  of  Emily,  I  had  ever  heard.  The  tears  rolled  down  my 
cheeks  with  gratitude  to  God,  for  once  more  placing  me  under 
the  protection  of  my  beloved  flag.  The  frigate  hove  to  ;  soon 
after,  the  gig  was  lowered  down,  and  came  to  fetch  me;  a  cloan 
white  cloak  was  spread  in  the  stern  sheets  ;  the  men  were 
dressed  in  white  frocks  and  trowsers,  as  clean  as  hands  could 
make  them,  with  neat  straw  hats,  and  canvas  shoes.  I  was 
seated  in  the  boat  without  delay,  and  my  heart  beat  with  rap- 
ture when  the  boatswain's  mate  at  the  gangway  piped  the  side 
for  me. 

I  was  received  by  the  captain  and  officers  with  all  the  kind- 
ness and  affection  which  we  lavish  on  each  other  on  such  oc- 
casions. The  captain  asked  me  a  thousand  questions,  and  the 
lieutenants  and  midshipmen  all  crowded  around  me  to  hear  my 
answers.  The  ship's  company  were  also  curious  to  know  our 
history,  and  I  requested  the  captain  would  send  the  gig  back 
for  Thompson,  who  would  assist  me  in  gratifying  the  general 
curiosity.     This  was  done,  and  the  bravo,  honest  fellow  came 


300  ^  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

on  board.     The  first  question  he  asked  was,  "  Who  fired  the 
first  shot  at  the  prize  ?" 

"  It  was  Mr.  Spears,  the  first-lieutenant  of  marines,"  said  one 
of  the  men. 

"  Then  Mr.  Spears  must  have  my  allowance  of  grog  for  the 
day,"  said  Thompson;  "for  I  said  it  last  night,  and  I  never  go 
from  my  word." 

"  Tliat  I  am  ready  to  swear  to,"  said  Captain  Peters,  of  the 
privateer  :  "I  have  known  men  of  good  resolutions,  and  you 
are  one  of  them  ;  and  I  have  known  men  of  bad  resolutions, 
and  he  was  one  of  them  whom  you  sent  last  night  to  his  long 
account;  and  it  was  fortunate  for  you  that  you  did;  for  as  sure  as 
you  now  stand  here,  that  man  would  have  compassed  your  death, 
either  by  dagger,  by  water,  or  by  poison.  I  never  knew  or 
heard  of  the  man  who  had  struck  or  injured  Peleg  Oswald 
with  impunity.  He  was  a  Kentucky  man,  of  the  Ohio,  where 
he  had  '  squated,'  as  we  say;  but  he  shot  two  men  with  his  rifle, 
because  they  had  declined  exchanging  some  land  with  him. 
He  had  gouged  the  eye  out  of  a;  third,  for  some  trifling  differ- 
ence of  opinion.  These  acts  obliged  him  to  quit  the  country  ; 
for  not  only  were  the  officers  of  justice  in  pursuit  of  him,  but 
the  man  who  had  lost  one  eye  kept  a  sharp  look  out  with  the 
other,  and  Peleg  would  certainly  have  had  a  rifle  ball  in  his 
ear  if  he  had  not  fled  eastward,  and  taken  again  to  the  sea,  to 
which  he  was  originally  brought  up.  I  did  not  know  all  his 
history  till  long  after  he  and  I  became  shipmates.  He  would 
have  been  tried  for  his  life;  but  having  made  some  prize  money, 
he  contrived  to  buy  off  his  prosecutors.  I  should  have  unship- 
ped him  next  cruise,  if  it  had  pleased  God  I  had  got  safe 
back." 

While  Peters  was  giving  this  little  history  of  his  departed 
mate,  the  captain's  breakfast  was  announced,  and  the  two 
American  capains  were  invited  to  partake  of  it.  As  we  M'ent 
down  the  ladder  under  the  half  deck,  I'eters  and  Green  could 
not  help  casting  an  eye  of  admiration  at  the  clean  and  clear 
deck,  the  style  of  the  guns,  and  perfect  union  of  the  useful 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  •     301 

and  ornamental,  so  inimitably  blended  as  they  are  sometimes 
found  in  our  ships  of  war.  There  was  nothing  in  the  captain's 
repast  beyond  cleanliness,  plenty,  hearty  welcome,  and  cheer- 
fulness. 

The  conversation  turned  on  the  nature,  quality,  and  number 
of  men  in  the  privateer.  "  They  are  all  seamen,"  said  Peters, 
"  except  the  ten  black  fellows." 

"  Some  of  them,  I  suspect,  are  English,"  said  I. 

"  It  is  not  for  me  to  peach,"  said  the  wary  American.  "  It 
is  difficult  always  to  know  whether  a  man  who  has  been  much 
in  both  countries  is  a  native  of  Boston  in  Lincolnshire,  or  Boston 
in  Massachusetts  ;  and  perhaps  they  don't  always  know  them- 
selves.    We  never  ask  questions  when  a  seaman  ships  for  us." 

"  You  have  an  abundance  of  our  seamen,  both  in  your 
marine  and  merchant  service,"  said  our  captain. 

"  Yes,"  said  Green  ;"  and  we  are  never  likely  to  want  them, 
while  you  imjiress  for  us." 

"  We  impress  for  you  ?"  said  Captain  T ,  "  how  do  you 

prove  that  ?" 

"Your  impressment,"  said  the  American,  "fills  our  ships. 
Your  seamen  will  not  stand  it ;  and  for  every  two  men  you 
take  by  force,  rely  on  it,  we  get  one  of  them  as  a  volunteer." 

Peters  dissented  violently  from  this  proposition,  and  ap- 
peared angry  with  Green  for  making  the  assertion. 

"  I  see  no  reason  to  doubt  it,"  said  Green  ;  "  I  know  how 
our  fighting  ships,  as  well  as  our  traders,  are  manned.  I  will 
take  my  oath  that  more  than  two-thirds  have  run  from  the 
British  navy,  because  they  were  impressed.  You  yourself  have 
said  so  in  my  hearing,  Peters — look  at  your  crew." 

Peters  could  stand  conviction  no  longer  ;  he  burst  into  the 
most  violent  rage  with  Green  ;  said  that  what  ought  never  to 
have  been  owned  to  a  British  officer,  he  had  let  out :  that  it 
was  true  that  America  looked  upon  our  system  of  impressment 
as  the  sheet  anchor  of  her  navy  ;  but  he  was  sorry  the  im- 
portant secret  should  ever  have  escaped  from  an  American. 

"For  my  part,"  resumed  Green,  "  I  feel  so  deeply  indebted 


302  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

to  this  gallant  youug  Englishman  for  his  kindness  to  me,  that  I 
am  for  ever  the  friend  of  himself  and  his  country,  and  have 
sworn  never  to  carry  arms  against  Great  Britain,  unless  to  repel 
an  invasion  of  my  own  country." 

Breakfast  ended,  we  all  went  on  deck;  the  ship  and  her  prize 
were  lying  to;  the  hands  were  turned  up;  all  the  boats  hoisted 
out;  the  prisoners  and  their  luggage  taken  out  of  the  prize,  and, 
as  the  crew  of  the  privateer  came  on  board,  they  were  all  drawn 
up  on  the  quarter-deck,  and  many  0/  them  knowii  and  proved 
to  be  Englishmen.  When  taxed  and  reproached  for  their  infa- 
mous conduct,  they  said  it  was  owing  to  them  that  the  priva- 
teer had  been  taken,  for  that  they  had  left  the  lower  studding- 
sail  purposely  hanging  over  the  night-head,  and  towing  in  the 
water,  by  which  the  way  of  the  vessel  had  been  impeded. 

Captain  Peters,  who  heard  this  confession,  was  astonished; 
and  the  captain  of  the  frigate  observed  to  him,  that  such  con- 
duct was  exactly  that  which  might  \)e  expected  from  any  traitor 
to  his  country.  Then,  turning  to  the  prisoners,  he  said,  "  The 
infamy  of  your  first  crime  could  scarcely  have  been  increased;  but 
your  treachery  to  the  new  government,  under  which  you  had 
placed  yourselves,  renders  you  unworthy  of  the  name  of  men; 
nor  have  you  even  the  mirfferable  merit  you  claim  of  having 
contributed  to  the  capture,  since  we  never  lost  sight  of  the  chase 
from  the  first  moment  we  saw  her,  and  from  the  instant  she 
hauled  her  wind  we  knew  she  was  ours." 

The  men  hung  down  their  heads,  and  when  dismissed  to  go 
below,  none  of  the  crew  of  the  frigate  would  receive  them  into 
their  messes;  but  the  real  Americans  were  kindly  treated. 

We  shaped  our  course  for  Simon's  Bay,  where  we  arrived  in 
one  week  after  the  capture. 

The  admiral  on  the  station  refused  to  try  the  prisoners  by  a 
court-martial;  he  said  it  was  rather  a  state  question,  and  should 
send  them  all  to  England,  where  the  lords  of  the  admiralty  might 
dispose  of  them  as  they  thought  proper.* 

The  "  True-bloodod  Yankee  "  was  libelled  in  the  vice-admir- 
al fy  court  at  Cape  Town,  condemned  as  a  lawful  prize,  and  pur- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  30S 

chased  into  the  service;  and,  being  a  very  fine  vessel  of  lier 
class,  the  admiral  was  pleased  to  say,  that  as  I  had  been  so 
singularly  unfortunate,  he  would  give  me  the  command  of  her 
as  a  lieutenant,  and  send  mc  to  England  with  some  despatches, 
which  had  been  waiting  an  opportunity. 

This  was  an  arrangement  far  more  advantageous  to  me  than 
I  could  have  expected ;  but  what  rendered  it  still  more  agreea- 
ble, was,  that  my  friend  Talbot,  who  was  the  first  to  shake  me 
by  the  hand  on  board  the  prize,  begged  a  passage  home  with 
me,  ho  having,  by  the  last  packet,  received  his  commander's 
commission.  The  admiral,  at  my  request,  also  gave  Captains 
Peters  and  Green,  permission  to  go  home  with  me.-  Mungo,  the 
black  man,  and  Thompson,  the  quarter-master,  with  the  midship- 
man who  had  been  with  me  in  the  boat,  were  also  of  the  party. 
My  crew  was  none  of  the  very  best,  as  might  be  supposed  ;  but 
I  was  not  in  a  state  to  make  difficulties;  and,  with  half  a  dozen 
of  the  new  negroes,  taken  out  of  tlie  trader,  I  made  up  such  a 
ship's  company  as  I  thought  would  enable  me  to  run  to  Spithead. 

We  laid  in  a  good  stock  of  provisions  at  the  Cape.  The 
Americans  begged  to  be  allowed  to  pay  their  part;  but  this  I 
positively  refused,  declaring  myself  too  happy  in  having  them 
as  my  guests.  I  purchased  alf  Captain's  Peter's  wine  and 
stock,  giving  hini  the  full  value  for  it.  Mungo  was  appointed 
steward,  for  I  had  taken  a  great  fancy  to  him;  and  my  friend 
Talbot  having  brought  all  his  things  on  board,  and  the  admiral 
having  given  my  final  orders,  I  sailed  from  Simon's  Bay  for 
England. 

There  is  usually  but  little  of  incident  in  a  run  home  of  this 
sort.  I  was  not  directed  to  stop  at  St.  Helena,  and  had  no  in 
clination  to  loiter  on  my  way.  I  carried  sail  night  and  day  to 
the  very  utmost.  Talbot  and  myself  became  inseparable  friends, 
and  our  cabin  mess  was  one  of  pei'fect  harmony.  We  avoided 
all  national  reflections,  and  abstained  as  much  as  possible  from 
politics.  I  made  a  confidant  of  Talbot  in  my  love  afl'air  with 
Emily.  Of  poor  Eugenia  I  had  long  before  told  him  a  great 
deal. 


304  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

One  day  at  dinner  we  happened  to  talk  of  swimming.  "  I 
think,"  said  Talbot,  "  that  my  friend  Frank  is  as  good  a  hand 
at  that  as  any  of  us.  Do  you  remember  when  you  swam  away 
from  the  frigate  at  Spithead,  to  pay  a  visit  to  your  friend,  Mrs. 
Melpomene,  at  Point  ?" 

"  I  do,"  said  I,  "  and  also  how  generously  you  showered  the 
musket-balls  about  jny  ears  for  the  same." 

"  Your  escape  from  either  drowning  or  shooting  on  that  occa- 
sion, among  many  others,"  said  the  commander,  "makes  me 
augur  something  more  serious  of  your  future  destiny." 

"  That  may  be,"  said  I;  "  but  I  dispute  the  legality  of  your 
act,  in  trjang  to  kill  me  before  you  knew  who  I  was,  or  what  I 
was  about.  I  might  have  been  mad,  for  what  you  knew;  or  I 
might  have  belonged  to  some  other  ship;  but,  in  any  event,  had 
you  killed  me,  and  had  my  body  been  found,  a  coroner's  inquest 
would  have  gone  very  hard  with  you,  and  a  jury  still  worse." 

"  I  should  have  laughed  at  them,"  said  Talbot. 

"  You  might  have  found  it  no  laughing  matter,"  said  I. 

"  How  ?"  replied  Talbot,  "  what  are  sentinels  placed  for,  and 
loaded  with  ball  ?" 

"  To  defend  the  ship,"  said  I;  "to  give  warning  of  approach- 
ing danger;  to  prevent  men  going  out  of  the  ship  without  leave; 
but  never  to  take  away  the  hfe  of  a  man  unless  in  defence  of 
their  own,  or  when  the  safety  of  the  king's  ship  demands  it." 

"  I  deny  your  conclusion,"  said  Talbot;  "  The  articles  of  war 
denounce  death  to  all  deserters." 

"True,"  said  I,  "  they  do,  and  also  to' many  other  crimes; 
but  those  crimes  must  first  of  all  be  proved  before  a  court-mar- 
tial. Now  you  cannot  prove  that  I  was  deserting,  aud  if  you 
could,  you  had  nqt  the  power  to  inflict  death  on  me  unless  I  was 
going  towards  the  enemy.  I  own  I  was  'disobeying  your  orders, 
but  even  that  would  not  have  subjected  me  to  more  than  a 
slight  punishment,  while  your  arbitrary  act  would  have  deprived 
the  king,  as  1  flatter  myself,  of  a  loyal,  and  not  a  useless  sub- 
ject: and  if  my  body  had  not  been  found,  no  good  could  have 
accrued  to  the  service  from  the  severity  of  example.     On  the 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  305 

contrary,  many  would  liave  supjiosed  I  had  escaped,  and  been 
encouraged  to  make  the  same  attempt." 

"  I  am  very  sorry  now,"  said  Talbot,  "  that  I  did  not  lower 
down  a  boat  to  send  after  you  ;  however,  it  has  been  a  comfort 
to  me  since  to  reflect  that  the  marines  missed  you." 

This  ended  the  subject :  we  walked  the  deck  a  little,  talked 
of  sweethearts,  shaped  the  course  for  the  night  to  make  Fayal, 
which  we  wore  not  far  from,  and  then  returned  to  our  beds. 

Falling  into  a  sound  sleep,  it  was  natural  that  the  conversa- 
tion of  the  evening  should  have  dwelt  on  my  mind,  and  a 
strange  mixture  of  disjointed  thoughts,  a  compound  of  reason 
and  insanity,  haunted  me  till  the  morning.  Trinidad  and 
Emily,  the  Nine-Pin  Rock,  and  the  mysterious  Eugenia,  with 
her  supposed  son  :  the  sinking  wreck,  and  the  broken  schooner, 
all  appeared  separately  or  together. 

"  When  nature  rests, 
Oft,  in  her  absence,  mimic  fancy  wakes." 

I  thought  I  saw  Emily  standing  on  the  pinnacle  of  the  Nine- 
Pin  Rock,  just  as  Lord  Nelson  is  represented  on  the  monument 
in  Dublin,  or  Bonaparte  in  that  of  the  Place  Yendome  ;  but 
with  a  grace  as  far  superior  to  either,  as  the  Nine-Pin  Rock  is 
in  majesty  and  natural  grandeur  to  those  works  of  human  art. 

Emily,  I  thought,  was  clad  in  complete  mourning,  but  look- 
ing radiant  in  health  and  loveliness,  although  with  a  melancholy 
countenance.  The  dear  image  of  my  mistress  seemed  to  say, 
"  I  shall  never  come  down  from  this  pinnacle  without  your 
assistance."  "  Then,"  thuiks  I,  "  you  will  never  come  down  at 
all."  Then  I  thought  Eugenia  was  queen  of  Trinidad,  and  that 
it  was  she  who  had  placed  Emily  out  of  my  reach  on  the  rock  ; 
aud  I  was  entreating  her  to  let  Emily  come  down,  when  Thomp- 
son tapped  at  my  cabin  door  and  told  me  that  it  was  daylight, 
and  that  they  could  see  tBe  island  of  Fayal  in  the  ^orth-east, 
distant  about  seven  leagues. 

I  dressed  myself,  and  went  on  deck,  saw  the  land,  and  a 
strange  sail  steering  to  the  westward.     The  confounded  dream 


306  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

still  I'uuniug-  iu  my  head — like  Adam,  I  "  liked  it  not,"  aad  yet 
I  thought  myself  a  fool  for  not  dismissing  such  idle  stuff  ;  still 
it  would  not  go  away.  The  Americans  came  on  deck  soon 
after  ;  and  seeing  the  ship  steering  to  the  westward,  asked  if  I 
meant  to  speak  her,  I  replied  in  the  affirmative.  We  had  then 
as  much  sail  as  we  could  carry  ;  and  as  she  had  no  wish  to 
avoid  us,  but  kept  on  her  course,  we  were  soon  alongside  of  her. 
She  proved  to  be  a  cartel,  bound  to  Kew  York  with  American 
prisoners. 

In  case  of  meeting  with  any  vessel  bound  to  the  United 
States,  the  admiral  had  given  me  permission  to  send  my  pri- 
soners home  without  carrying  them  to  England.  I  had  not 
mentioned  this  either  to  Peters  or  Green,  for  fear  of  producing 
disappointment  ;  but  when  I  found  I  could  dispose  of  them  so 
comfortably,  I  acquainted  them  with  my  intention.  Their  joy 
and  gratitude  were  beyond  all  description  ;  they  thanked  me  a 
thousand  times,  as  they  did  my  friend  Talbot,  for  our  kindness 
to  them. 

"  Leftenant,"  said  Peters,  "  I  am  not  much  accustomed  to 
the  company  of  you  Eughshmen  ;  and  if  I  have  always  thought 
you  a  set  of  tyrants  and  bullies,  it  ar'n't  my  fault.  I  believed 
what  I  was  told  ;  but  now  I  have  seen  for  myself,  and  I  find 
the  devil  is  never  so  black  as  he  is  painted."  I  bowed  to  the 
Yankee  compliment.  "  Howsoever,"  he  continued,  "  I  should 
like  to  have  a  sprinkling  of  shot  between  us  on  fair  terms.  Do 
you  bring  this  here  brig  to  our  waters  ;  I  hope  to  get  another 

just  like  her,  and  as  I  know  you  are  a  d d  good  fellow,  and 

would  as  soon  have  a  dust  as  sit  down  to  dinner,  I  should 
like  to  try  to  get  the  command  of  the  True-blooded  Yankee 
again." 

"  If  you  man  your  next  brig,  as  you  manned  the  last,  with 
all  your  best  hands  Englishmen,"  said  I,  "  I  fear  I  should  find 
it  no  easy^matter  to  defend  myself."  • 

"  That's  as  it  may  be,"  said  the  captain  :  "  no  man  fights 
better  than  he  with  a  halter  round  his  neck  :  and  remember 
what  neighbour  Green  has  said,  for  he  has  'let  the  cat  out  of 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  301 

the  bag  :'  we  sliould  have  no  Euglishmeii  in  our  service,  if  tliey 
had  not  been  pressed  into  yours." 

I  could  make  no  return  to  this  salute,  because,  like  the  gua- 
ii''r  at  Landguard  Fort,  I  had  no  powder  ;  and,  in  fact,  I  felt 
the  rebuke. 

Green  stood  by,  but  never  opened  his  lips  until  the  captain 
hud  finished  ;  then  holding  out  his  hand  to  me,  with  his  eyes 
full  of  tears,  and  his  voice  almost  choked,  "  Farewell,  my  excel- 
lent friend,"  said  he  ;  "  I  shall  never  forget  you  ;  you  found 
me  a  villain,  and,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  you  have  made  me  au 
honest  man.  Never,  never,  shall  I  forget  the  day  when,  at  the 
risk  of  your  own  life,  you  came  to  save  one  so  unworthy  of  your 
protection  ;  but  God  bless  you  !  »nd  if  ever  the  fortune  of  war 
shoukl  send  you  a  prisoner  to  my  country,  here  is  my  address — 
what  is  mine  is  yours,  and  so  you  sliall  find." 

The  man  who  had  mutinied  in  the  boat,  and  afterwards 
entered  ou  board  the  privateer,  who  was  sent  home  with  me  to 
take  his  trial,  held  out  his  hand  to  Captain  Green,  as  he  passed 
him,  to  wish  him  good-bye,  but  he  turned  away,  saying,  "  A 
traitor  to  his  country  is  a  traitor  to  his  God.  I  forgive  you  for 
the  injury  you  intended  to  do  me,  and  the  more  so,  as  I  feel  I 
brought  it  on  myself  ;  but  I  cannot  degrade  myself  by  offering 
you  the  hand  of  fellowship." 

So  saying,  he  followed  Captain  Peters  into  the  boat.  I 
accompanied  them  to  the  cartel,  where,  having  satisfied  myself 
tiiat  they  had  every  comfort,  I  left  them.  Green  was  so  over- 
come that  he  could  net  speak,  and  poor  Mungo  could  only 
say,  "  Good-bye,  massa  leptenant,  me  tinkee  you  berry  good 
man." 

I  returned  to  my  own  vessel,  and  made  sail  for  England  : 
once  more  we  greeted  the  white  cliffs  of  Albion,  so  dear  to  every 
true  English  bosom.  No  one  but  he  who  has  been  an  exile 
from  its  beloved  shores,  can  fully  appreciate  the  thrill  of  joy  on 
such  an  occasion.  We  ran  through  the  Needles,  and  I 
anchored  at  Spithead,  after  an  absence  of  fourteen  months.  I 
waited  on  the  admiral,  showed  him  my  orders,  and  reported  the 


308  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OB, 

prisoners,  whom  he  desired  me  to  discharge  into  the  flag-ship  ; 
"  and  now,"  said  he,  "  after  your  extraordinary  escape,  I  will 
give  you  leave  to  run  up  to  town  and  see  your  family,  to  whom 
you  are,  no  doubt,  an  object  of  great  interest." 
Here  a  short  digression  is  necessary. 


■   CHAPTER   XXII. 

Such  was  my  brother  too, 
So  went  he  suited  to  his  watery  tomb  : 
If  spirits  can  assiline  both  form  and  suit, 
You  come  to  fright  us. 

Twelfth  Night. 

Soon  after  the  frigate  which  had  taken  me  off  from  New  Provi- 
dence had  parted  company  with  the  American  prize  that  I  was 
gent  on  board  of,  the  crew  of  the  former,  it  appeared,  had  been 
boasting  among  the  American  prisoners  of  the  prize-money  they 
should  receive. 

"  Not  you,"  said  the  Yankees;  "  you  will  never  see  your  prize 
any  more,  nor  any  one  that  went  in  her." 

These  words  were  repeated  to  the  captain  of  the  frigate,  when, 
he  questioned  the  mate  and  the  crew,  and  the  whole  nefarious 
transaction  came  out.  They  said  the  ship  was  sinking  when  they 
left  her,  and  that  was  the  reason  they  had  hurried  into  the  boat. 
The  mate  said  it  was  impossible  to  getet  the  leaks,  which  were 
in  the  fore  peak,  and  under  the  cabin  deck  in  the  run;  that  he 
wondered  Captain  Green  had  not  made  it  known,  but  he  sup- 
posed he  must  have  been  drunk:  "the  ship,"  continued  the 
mate,  "  must  have  gone  down  in  twelve  hours  after  we  left 
her." 

This  was  reported  to  the  admiralty  by  my  captain,  and  my 
l)Oor  father  was  formally  acquainted  with  the  fatal  story.  Five 
months  had  elapsed  since  I  was  last  heard  of,  and  all  hopes  of 
my  safety  had  vanished:  this  was  the  reason  that,  when  I  knocked 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  309 

at  the  door,  I  found  the  servant  in  mourning:  he  was  one  who 
had  been  hired  since  my  departure,  and  did  not  know  me.  Of 
course  he  expressed  no  surprise  at  seeing  me. 

"  Good  Heavensl"  said  I,  "  who  is  dead  ?" 

"  My  master's  only  son,  sir,"  said  the  man,  "  Mr.  Frank, 
drowned  at  sea." 

"  Oh  I  is  that  all  ?"  said  I;  "  I  am  glac^it's  no  worse." 

The  man  concluded  that  I  was  an  unfeeling  brute,  and  stared 
stupidly  at  me  as  I  brushed  by  him  and  ran  up  stairs  to  the  draw- 
ing-room. I  ought  to  have  l)een  more  guarded;  but,  as  usual, 
I  followed  the  impulse  of  my  feelings.  I  opened  the  door,  when 
I  saw  ray  sister  sitting  at  a  table  in  deep  mourning,  with  another 
young  lady  whose  back  was  turned  towards  me.  My  sister 
screamed  as  soon  as  she  saw  me.  The  other  lady  turned  round, 
and  I  beheld  my  Emily,  my  dear,  dear  Emily;  she,  too,  was  in 
deep  mourning.  My  sister,  after  screaming,  fell  on  the  floor  in 
a  swoon.  Emily  instantly  followed  her  example,  and  there  they 
both  lay,  like  two  petrified  queens  in  Westmister  Abbey.  It 
was  a  beautiful  sight,  "  pretty,  though  a  plague." 

I  was  confoundedly  frightened  myself,  and  thought  I  had  done 
a  very  foolish  thing;  but  as  I^had  no  time  to  lose,  I  rang  the 
bell  furiously,  and  seeing  some  jars  with  fresh  flowers  in  them, 
I  caught  them  up  and  poured  plentiful  libations  over  the  faces 
and  necks  of  the  young  ladies;  but  Emily  came  in  for  much  the 
largest  share,  which  proves  that  I  had  neither  lost  my  presence 
of  mind  nor  my  love  for  her. 

My  sister's  maid,  Higgins,  was  the  first  to  answer  the  draw- 
ing-room bell,  which,  from  its  violent  ringing,  announced  some 
serious  event.  She  came  bouncing  into  the  room  like  a  recouchee. 
shot.  She  was  an  old  acquaintance  of  mine;  I  had  often  kissed 
her  when  a  boy,  and  she  had  just  as  often  boxed  my  ears.  I 
used  to  give  her  a  ribbon  to  tie  up  her  jaw  with,  telling  her  at 
the  same  time  that  she  had  too  nmch  of  it.  This  abigail,  like 
a  true  lady's  maid,  seeing  me,  whom  she  thought  a  ghost,  stand- 
ing bolt  upright,  and  the  two  ladies  stretched  out,  as  she  sup 
posed,  dead,  gave  a  loud  and  most  interesting  scream,  ran  out 


310  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

of  the  room  for  her  life,  nearly  knocking  down  the  footmah,  whom 
she  met  coming  in. 

This  fellow,  who  was  a  country  lout,  the  son  of  one  of  my 
father's  tenants,  only  popped  his  head  in  at  the  door,  and  saw 
the  ladies  lying  on  the  carpet;  he  had  probably  formed  no  vci-y 
good  opinion  of  me  from  the  manner  in  which  I  had  received 
the  news  of  my  own  dgmise,  and  seemed  very  much  inclined  to 
act  the  part  of  a  mandarin,  that  is,  nod  his  head  and  stand 
still. 

"  Desire  some  of  the  women  to  come  here  immediately,"  said 
I;  "some  one  that  can  be  of  use;  tell  them  to  bring  salts,  eau 
de  cologne,  any  thing.  Fly,  blockhead,  goose,  what  do  you  stand 
staring  at  ?" 

The  fellow  looked  at  me  and  then  at  the  supposed  corpses, 
which  he  must  have  supposed  I  had  murdered;  and,  either  thun- 
derstruck, or  doubting  whether  he  had  any  right  to  obey  me, 
kept  his  head  inside  the  door  and  his  body  outside,  as  if  he  had 
been  in  the  pillory.  I  saw  that  he  required  some  explanation, 
and  cried  out,  "I  am  Mr,  Frank;  will  you  obey  me,  or  shall  I 
throw  this  jar  at  your  head  ?"  brandishing  one  of  the  chiiui 
vases. 

Had  I  been  inclined  to  have  thrown  it,  I  should  have  missed 
him,  for  the  fellow  was  off  like  a  woupded  porpoise.  Down  he 
ran  to  my  father  in  the  library:  "Oh,  sir — good  news — bad 
news — good  news — " 

"  What  news,  fool  ?"  said  my  father,  rising  hastily  from  his 
chair. 

"  Oh,  sir,  I  don't  know,  sir;  but  I  believe,  sir,  Mr.  Frank  is 
alive  again,  and  both  the  ladies  is  dead." 

My  })oor  father,  whose  health  and  constitution  had  not  re- 
covered the  shock  of  my  supposed  death,  tremblingly  leaned  over 
his  table,  on  which  he  rested  his  two  hands,  and  desired  the 
man  to  repeat  what  he  had  said.  This  the  fellow  did,  half  cry- 
ing, and  my  father  easily  comprehending  the  state  of  things, 
came  up  stairs.  I  would  have  flown  into  his  arms,  but  mine 
were  occupied  in  supporting  my  sweet  Emily,  while  my  poor 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  31] 

sister  lay  senseless  on  the  other  side  of  me;  for  Clara's  lover 
was  not  at  hand,  and  she  still  lay  in  abeyance. 

By  this  time  "  the  hands  were  turned  up,"  every  body  was  on 
the  alert,  and  every  living  creature  in  the  house,  not  excepting 
the  dog,  had  assembled  in  the  drawing-room.  The  maids  that 
had  known  me  cried  and  sobbed  most  piteously,  and  the  new 
comer  kept  them  company  from  sympathy.  The  coachman, 
and  footman,  and  groom,  all  blubbered  and  stared;  and  one 
brought  water,  and  one  a  basin,  and  the  booby  of  a  footman 
something  else,  which  I  must  not  name ;  but  in  his  hurry  he  had 
snatched  up  the  first  utensil  that  bethought  might  be  of  use ;  I 
approved  of  his  zeal  but  nodded  to  him  to  retire.  Unluckily 
for  him  the  housemaid  perceived  the  mistake,  which  his  absence 
of  thought  had  led  him  into;  and,  snatching  the  mysterious  ves- 
sel with  her  left  hand,  she  hid  it  under  her  apron,  while  with  her 
I'ight  she  gave  the  poor  fellow  such  a  slap  on  the  cheek,  as  to 
bring  to  my  mind  the  tail  of  the  whale  descending  on  the  boat 
at  Bermuda.     "  You  great  fool,"  said  she,  "  nobody  wants  that." 

"There  is  matrimony  in  that  slap,"  said  I;  and  the  event 
proved  I  was  right — they  were  asked  in  church  the  Sunday  fol- 
lowing. 

The  industrious  application  of  salts,  cold  water,  and  burnt 
rags,  together  with  chafing  of  temples,  opening  of  collars,  and 
loosening  the  stay-laces  of  the  young  ladies,  produced  the  hap- 
piest effects.  Every  hand  and  every  tongue  was  in  motion;  and 
with  all  these  remedies,  the  eyes  of  the  enchanting  Emily  opened, 
and  beamed  upon  me,  spreading  joy  and  gladness  over  the  face 
of  creation,  like  the  sun  rising  out  of  the  bosom  of  the  Atlantic, 
to  cheer  the  inhabitants  of  the  Antilles  after  a  frightful  hurri- 
cane. In  half  an  hour,  all  was  right;  "  the  guns  were  secured — 
we  beat  the  retreat  ?"  the  servants  retreated.  I  became  the 
centre  of  the  picture.  Emily  held  my  right,  my  father  my  left; 
dear  Clara  hung  round  my  neck.  Questions  were  put  and  an- 
swered as  fast  as  sobs  and  tears  would  admit  of  their  being 
heard.  The  interlude  was  filled  up  with  the  sweetest  kisses 
from  the  rosiest  of  lips;  and  I  was  in  this  half  hour  rewarded 


312  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

for  all  I  bad  suffered  since  I  had  sailed  from  England  in  the 
diabolical  brig  for  Barbadoes. 

It  was,  I  own,  exceedingly  wrong,  to  have  taken  the  house, 
as  it  were,  by  storm,  when  I  knew  they  were  in  mourning  for  me; 
but  I  forgot  that  other  people  did  not  require  the  same  stimu- 
lus as  myself.  I  begged  pardon;  was  kissed  again  and  again, 
and  foi'giveu.  Oh,  it  was  worth  while  to  offend,  to  be  forgiven 
by  such  lips,  and  eyes,  and  dimples.  But  I  am  afraid  this 
thought  is  borrowed  from  some  prose  or  poetry ;  if  so,  the  reader 
must  forgive  me,  and  so  must  the  author,  who  may  have  it  again, 
now  I  have  done  with  it,  for  I  shall  never  use  it  any  more. 

My  narrative  was  given  with  as  much  modesty  and  brevity  as 
time  and  circumstances  would  admit.  The  coachman  was  de- 
spatched on  one  of  the  best  carriage-horses  express  to  Mr. 
Somerville,  and  the  mail-coach  was  loaded  with  letters  to  all 
the  friends  and  connections  of  the  family. 

This  ended,  each  retired  to  dress  for  dinner.  What  a  change 
one  hour  wrought  in  this  house  of  moui'uing,  now  suddenly 
turned  into  a  house  of  joy  !  Alas !  how  often  is  the  picture  re- 
versed in  human  Ufe  I  The  ladies  soon  reappeared  in  spotless 
white ;  emblems  of  their  pure  minds.  My  father  had  put  off  his 
sablet;,  and  the  servants  came  in  their  usual  liveries,  which  were 
very  splendid. 

Dinner  being  announced,  my  father  handed  off  Emily;  I  fol- 
lowed with  my  sister.  Emily  looking  over  her  shoulder,  said, 
"  Don't  be  jealous,  Frank." 

My  father  laughed,  and  I  vowed  revenge  for  this  little  satiri- 
cal hit. 

"  You  know  the  forfeit,"  said  I,  "  and  you  shall  pay  it." 

"  I  am  happy  to  say  that  I  am  both  able  and  willing,"  said 
she,  and  we  sat  down  to  dinner,  but  not  before  my  father  had 
given  thanks  in  a  manner  more  than  usually  solemn  and  empha- 
tic. This  essential  act  of  devotion,  so  often  neglected,  brought 
tears  into  the  eyes  of  all.  Emily  sank  into  her  chair,  covered 
her  face  with  her  pocket-handkerchief,  and  relieved  herself  with 
tears.     Clara  did  the  same.     My  father  shook  me  by  the  hand. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  313 

and  said,  "  Frank,  this  is  a  very  different  kind  of  repast  to  what 
we  had  yesterday.  IIow  little  did  we  know  of  tlie  happiness 
that  was  in  store  for  us  !" 

The  young  ladies  dried  their  eyes,  but  had  lost  their  appetites; 
in  vain  did  Emily  endeavour  to  manage  the  tail  of  a  small  smelt. 
I  filled  a  glass  of  wine  to  each.  "Come,"  said  I,  "in  a  sea 
phrase,  spirits  are  always  more  easily  stowed  away  than  dry 
provisions;  let  us  drink  each  other's  health,  and  then  we  shall 
get  on  better." 

They. took  my  advice,  and  it  answered  the  purpose.  Our  re- 
past was  cheerful,  but  tempered  and  corrected  by  a  feeling  of  a 
past  sorrow,  and  a  deep  sense  of  great  mercies  from  Heaven, 

"  If  Hearen  were  every  day  like  this, 
Then  'twere  indeed  a  Heaven  of  bliss." 

Reader,  I  know  you  have  long  thought  me  a  vain  man — a 
profligate,  unprincipled  Don  Juan,  ready  to  pray  when  in  danger, 
and  to  sin  when  out  of  it;  but  as  I  have  always  told  you  the 
truth,  when  my  honour  and  character  were  at  stake,  I  expect 
you  will  believe  nie  now,  when  I  say  a  word  in  my  own  favour. 
That  I  felt  gratitude  to  God  for  my  deliverance  and  safe  return, 
I  do  most  soleumly  aver;  my  heart  was  ready  to  burst  with  the 
escape  of  this  feeling,  which  I  suppressed  from  a  false  sense  of 
shame,  though  I  was  never  given  much  to  the  melting  mood  5 
moreover,  I  was  too  proud  to  show  what  I  thought  a  weakness, 
before  the  great  he-fellows  of  footmen.  Had  we  been  in  private, 
I  could  have  fallen  down  on  my  knees  before  that  God  whom  I 
had  so  often  offended;  who  had  rescued  me  twice  from  the  jaws 
of  the  shark;  who  had  lifted  me  from  the  depth  of  the  sea  when 
darkness  covered  me;  who  had  saved  me  from  the  poison  and  the 
wreck,  and  guided  me  clear  of  the  rock  at  Trinidad;  and  who 
had  sent  the  dog  to  save  mo  from  a  horrible  death. 

These  were  only  a  small  part  of  the  mercies  I  had  received  ; 
but  they  were  the  most  recent,  and  consequently  had  left  the 
deepest  impression  on  my  memory.  I  would  have  given  one  of 
Emily's  approving  smiles,  much  as  I  valued  them,  to  have  been 

14  m 


314  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

relieved  from  my  oppressed  feelings  by  a  hearty  flood  of  tears, 
and  by  a  solemn  act  of  devotion  and  thanksgiving  ;  but  I  felt 
all  this,  and  that  feeling,  I  hope,  was  accounted  to  me  for  right- 
eousness. For  the  first  time  in  my  life,  the  love  of  God  was 
mixed  up  with  a  pure  and  earthly  love  for  Emily,  and  affection 
for  my  family. 

The  ladies  sat  with  us  some  time  after  the  cloth  was  removed, 
unable  to  drag  themselves  away,  while  I  related  my  "  hair- 
breadth escapes."  When  I  spoke  of  the  incident  of  trying  to 
save  the  poor  man  who  fell  overboard  from  the  brig — of  ray 
holding  him  by  the  collar,  and  being  dragged  down  with  him 
until  the  sea  became  dark  over  my  head — Emily  could  bear  it 
no  longer  ;  she  jumped  up,  and  falling  on  her  knees,  hid  her 
lovely  face  in  my  sister's  lap,  passionately  exclaiming,  "  Oh,  do 
not,  do  not,  my  dear  Frank,  tell  me  any  more — I  cannot  bear 
it — indeed,  I  cannot  bear  it." 

We  all  gathered  round  her,  and  supported  her  to  the 
drawing-room,  where  we  diverted  ourselves  with  lighter  and 
gayer  anecdotes.  Emily  tried  a  tune  on  the  piano-forte,  and 
attempted  a  song  ;  but  it  would  not  do  :  she  could  not  sing  a 
gay  one,  and  a  melancholy  one  overpowered  her.  At  twelve 
o'clock,  we  all  retired  to  our  apartments,  and  before  I  slept  I 
spent  some  minutes  in  devotion,  with  vows  of  amendment  which 
I  fully  intended  to  keep. 

The  next  morning,  Mr.  Somerville  joined  us  at  breakfast. 
This  was  another  trial  of  feeling  for  poor  Emily,  who  threw 
herself  into  her  father's  arms,  and  sobbed  aloud.  Mr.  Somer- 
ville shook  me  most  cordially  by  the  hand  with  both  of  his,  and 
eagerly  demanded  the  history  of  my  extraordinary  adventures, 
of  which  I  gave  him  a  small  abridgment.  I  had  taken  the 
opportunity  of  an  hour's  tetc-u-tete  with  Emily,  wliich  Clara  had 
considerately  given  us  before  breakfast,  to  speak  of  our  antici- 
pated union  :  and  finding  there  were  no  other  obstacles  than 
those  which  are  usually  raised  by  "  maiden  pride  and  bashful 
coyness,"  so  natural,  so  becoming,  and  so  lovely  in  the  sex,  I 
determined  to  speak  to  the  greybeards  on  the  subject. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  315 

To  this,  Emily  at  last  consented,  on  my  reiniading  her  of  my 
late  narrow  escapes.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  the  ladies  had 
retired  from  the  dinner  table,  I  asked  my  father  to  fill  a  bumper 
to  their  health  ;  and,  having  swallowed  mine  in  all  the  fervency 
of  the  most  unbounded  love,  I  popped  the  question  to  them 
both.  ]Mr.  Somerville  and  my  father  looked  at  each  other,  when 
the  former  said, 

"  You  seem  to  be  in  a  great  hurry,  Frank." 

"  Not  greater,  sir,"  said  I,  "  than  the  oljject  deserves."  He 
bowed,  and  my  father  began  : 

"  I  cannot  say,"  observed  the  good  old  gentleman,  "  that  I 
much  approve  of  matrimony  before  you  are  a  commander.  At 
least,  till  then  you  are  not  your  own  master." 

"  Oh,  if  I  am  to  wait  for  that,  sir,"  said  I,  "  I  may  wait  long 
enough  ;  no  man  is  ever  his  own  master  in  our  service,  or  in 
England.  The  captain  is  commanded  by  the  admh'al,  and  the 
admiral  by  the  admiralty,  the  admiralty  by  the  privy  council, 
the  pi'ivy  council  by  the  parliament,  the  parliament  by  the  peo- 
l)le,  and  the  people  by  printers  and  their  devils." 

"  I  admire  your  logical  chain  of  causes  and  effects,"  said  my 
father  ;  "  but  we  must,  after  all,  go  to  the  lace  manufactory  at 
Charing-cross,  to  see  if  we  cannot  have  your  shoulders  fitted 
with  a  pair  of  epaulets.  When  we  can  see  you  command  your 
own  sloop  of  war,  I  shall  be  most  happy,  as  I  am  sure  my  good 
friend  Somerville  will  be  also,  to  see  you  command  his  daugh- 
ter, the  finest  and  the  best  girl  in  the  county  of ." 

No  arguments  could  induce  the  two  old  gentlemen  to  bate 
one  inch  from  these  sine,  qua  non.  It  was  agreed  that  applica- 
tion should  be  made  to  the  admiralty  forthwith  for  my  promo- 
tion :  and  when  that  desirable  step  was  obtained,  that  then 
Emily  should  have  the  disposal  of  me  for  the  honey-moon. 

All  this  was  a  very  pretty  story  for  them  on  the  score  of  pru- 
dence, but  it  did  not  suit  the  views  of  an  ardent  lover  of  one- 
aud-twenty  ;  for  though  T  knew  my  father's  influence  was  very 
great  at  the  admiralty,  I  also  knew  that  an  excellent  regulation 
had  recently  been  promulgated,  which  prevented  any  lieutenant 


316  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

being  promoted  to  the  rauk  of  commander,  until  he  had  served 
two  years  at  sea  from  the  date  of  his  first  commission  ;  nor 
could  any  commander,  in  like  manner,  be  promoted  before  he 
had  served  one  year  in  that  capacity.  All  this  was  no  doubt 
very  good  for  the  service,  but  I  had  not  yet  attained  sufficient 
amor  patricB,  to  prefer  the  public  to  myself ;  and  I  fairly  wished 
the  regulation,  and  the  makers  of  it,  in  the  cavern  at  New 
Providence,  just  about  the  time  of  high  water. 

I  put  it  to  the  ladies  whether  this  was  not  a  case  of  real 
distress,  after  all  my  hardships  and  my  constancy,  to  be  put  off 
with  such  an  excuse  ?  The  answer  from  the  admiralty  was  so 
far  favourable,  that  I  was  assured  I  should  be  promoted  as  soon 
as  my  time  was  served,  of  which  I  then  wanted  two  moutJis.  I 
was  appointed  to  a  ship  fitting  at  Woolwich,  and  before  she 
could  be  ready  for  sea,  my  time  would  be  completed,  and  I  was 
to  have  my  commission  as  a  commander.  This  was  not  the 
way  to  ensure  her  speedy  equipment,  as  far  as  I  was  concerned; 
but  there  was  no  help  for  it ;  and  as  the  ship  was  at  Wool- 
wich, and  the  residence  of  my  fair  one  at  no  great  distance,  I 
endeavoured  to  pass  my  time,  during  the  interval,  between  the 
duties  of  love  and  war  ;  between  obedience  to  my  captain,  and 
obedience  to  my  mistress  ;  and  by  great  good  fortune  I  con- 
trived to  please  both,  for  my  captain  gave  himself  no  trouble 
about  the  ship,  or  her  equipment. 

Before  I  proceeded  to  join,  I  made  one  more  effort  to  break 
through  the  inflexibility  of  my  father.  I  said  I  had  undergone 
the  labours  of  Hercules  ;  and  that  if  I  went  again  on  foreign 
service,  I  might  meet  with  some  young  lady  who  would  send 
me  out  of  the  world  with  a  cup  of  poison,  or  by  some  fatal  spell 
break  the  magical  chain  which  now  bound  me  to  Emily.  This 
poetical  imagery  had  no  more  effect  on  them,  than  my  ])rose 
composition.  1  then  appealed  to  Emily  herself.  "  Surely," 
said  I,  "  your  heart  is  not  as  hard  as  those  of  our  inflexiblt! 
parents  ?  surely  you  will  be  my  advocate  on  this  occasion  ?  Bend 
but  one  look  of  disapprobation  on  my  i^ither  with  those  heavenly 
blue  eyes  of  yours,  and,  on  my  life,  he  will  strike  his  flag." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  311 

But  tlie  gipsy  replied,  with  a  smile  (instigated,  no  doiikt, 
from  liead-qiiarters),  that  she  jditl  not  like  the  ide-a  of  her  name 
appearing  in  the  Morning  Post  as  the  bride  of  a  lieutenant. 
"  What's  a  lieutenant,  now-a-days  ?"  said  she  ;  "  nobody.  I 
remember  when  I  was  on  a  visit  at  Fareham,  I  used  to  go  to 
Portsmouth  to  sec  the  dock-yard  and  the  ships,  and  there  was 
your  great  friend  the  tall  admiral,  Sir  Hurricane  Humbug,  I 
think  you  call  him,  driving  the  poor  lieutenants  about  like  so 
many  sheep  before  a  dog ;  there  was  one  always  at  his  heels, 
like  a  running  footman  ;  and  there  was  another  tliat  appeared  • 
to  me  to  be  chained,  like  a  mastiff,  to  the  door  of  the  admiral's 
oflBce,  except  when  the  admiral  and  family  walked  out,  and  then 
he  brought  up  the  rear  with  the  governess.  No,  Frank,  I  shall 
not  surrender  at  discretion,  with  all  my  charms,  to  any  thing 
less  than  a  captain,  with  a  pair  of  gold  epaulets." 

"  Very  well,"  rei)lied  I,  looking  into  the  pier-glass,  with  a 
tolerable  self-complacency  ;  "  if  you  choose  to  pin  your  happi- 
ness on  the  promises  of  a  first  lord  of  the  admiralty,  and  a  pair 
of  epaulets,  Ijcan  say  no  more.  There  is  no  accounting  for 
female  taste  ;  some  ladies  prefer  gold  lace  and  wrinkles,  to 
youth  and  beauty — I  am  sorry  for  them,  that's  all." 

"  Frank,"  said  Emily,  "you  must  acknowledge  that  you  are 
vain  enough  to  be  an  admiral  at  least." 

"  The  admirals  are  much  obliged  to  you  for  tlie  compliment," 
said  I.  "I  trust  I  should  not  disgrace  the  flag,  come  when  it 
will  ;  but  to  tell  you  the  truth,  my  dear  Emily,  I  cannot  say  I 
look  forward  to  that  elevation  with  any  degree  of  satisfaction. 
Three  stars  on  each  shoulder,  and  three  rows  of  gold  lace  round 
the  cuff,  are  no  compensation,  in  my  eyes,  for  gray  hairs,  thin 
legs,  a  broken  back,  a  church-yard  cough,  and  to  be  lai:ghcd 
at  or  pitied  by  all  the  pretty  girls  in  the  country  into  the  bar- 
gain." 

"  I  am  sorry  for  you,  my  hero,"  said  the  young  lady  ;  "  but 
you  must  submit." 

"Well,  then,  if  I  must,  I  must,"  said  I,  "but  give  me  a  kiss 
m  the  mean  time." 


318  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

•I  asked  for  one,  and  took  a  hundred,  and  should  have  taken 
a  hundred  more,  but  the  confounded  butler  came  in,  and 
bi";0ught  me  a  letter  on  service,  which  was  neither  more  nor 
less  than  an  order  to  join  my  ship  forthwith  ;  sic  transit,  &c. 

Pocketing  my  disappointment  with  as  much  sang  froid  as  I 
could  muster,  I  continued  to  beguile  the  time  and  to  solace  my- 
self for  my  past  sufferings,  by  as  much  enjoyment  as  could  be 
compressed  into  the  small  space  of  leisure  time  allotted  to  me. 
Fortunately,  the  first-lieutenant  of  the  frigate  was  what  we 
used  to  call  "  a  hard  officer;"  he  never  went  on  shore,  because 
he  had  few  friends  and  less  money.  He  drew  for  his  pay  on 
the  day  it  became  due,  and  it  lasted  till  the  next  day  of  pay- 
ment; and  as  I  found  he  doted  on  a  Spanish  cigar,  and  a  correct 
glass  of  cogniac  grog — for  he  never  drank  to  excess — I  pre- 
sented hhu  with  a  box  of  the  former,  and  a  dozen  of  the  latter, 
to  enable  him  to  bear  my  nightly  absence  with  Christian  com- 
posure. 

As  soon  as  the  day's  work  was  ended,  the  good-natured  lieu- 
tenant used  to  say,  "  Come,  Mr.  Mildmay,  I  know  what  it  is  to 
be  in  love ;  I  was  once  in  love  myself,  though  it  is  a  good  many 
years  ago,  and  I  am  sure  I  shall  get  into  the  good  graces  of 
your  Polly  (for  so  he  called  Emily)  if  I  send  you  to  her  arms. 
There  is  the  jolly  for  you;  send  the  boat  off  as  soon  as  you  have 
lauded,  and  be  with  us  at  nine  to-morrow  morning,  to  meet  the 
midshipman  and  the  working  party  in  the  dock-yard." 
■  All  this  was  perfectly  agreeable  to  me.  I  generally  got  to 
Mr.  Somerville's  temporary  residence  on  Blackheath  by  the 
time  the  dressing-bell  rang,  and  never  failed  to  meet  a  pleasant 
party  at  dinner.  My  father  and  dear  Clara  were  guests  in  the 
house  as  well  as  myself.  By  Mr.  Somerville's  kind  permission, 
I  introduced  Talbot,  wlio,  being  a  perfect  gentleman  in  his 
manners,  a  man  of  sound  sense,  good  education,  and  high  aris- 
tocratic connexions,  1  was  ])rond  to  call  my  friend.  I  presented 
him  particularly  to  my  sister,  and  took  an  opportunity  of 
whispering  in  Emily's  ear,  where  I  knew  it  would  not  long- 
remain,  that  he  possessed  the  indispensable  qualification  of  two 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFICER.  319 

epaulets.  "  Therefore,"  said  I,  "  pray  do  not  trust  yourself  too 
near  liim,  for  fear  you  should  be  taken  by  surprise,  like  the 
True-blooded  Yankee." 

Talbot,  knowing  that  Emily  was  bespoken,  paid  her  no  more 
than  the  common  attentions  which  courtesy  demands;  but  to 
Clara  his  demeanour  was  very  different;  and  her  natural 
attractions  were  mucli'enhanced  in  his  eyes  by  the  friendship 
which  we  had  entertained  for  each  other  ever  since  the  memo- 
rable affair  of  swimming  away  from  the  ship  at  Spithead ;  from 
that  time  he  u.sed  jocularly  to  call  me  "  Leauder." 

But  before  I  proceed  any  farther  with  this  part  of  my  his- 
tory, I  must  beg  leave  to  detain  the  reader  one  minute  only, 
while  I  attempt  to  make  a  sketch  of  my  dear  little  sister  Clara. 
She  was  rather  fair,  with  a  fine,  small,  oval,  well-proportioned 
face,  si^arkling  black  and  speaking  eyes,  good  teeth,  pretty  red 
lips,  very  dark  hair,  and  plenty  of  it,  hanging  over  her  face  and 
neck  in  curls  of  6very  size;  her  arms  and  bust  were  such  as 
Phidias  and  Praxiteles  might  have  copied;  her  waist  was  slcu- 
der;  her  hands  and  feet  small  and  beautifuL  I  used  often  to 
think  it  was  a  great  pity  that  such  a  love  as  she  was  should  not 
be  matched  with  some  equally  good  specimen  of  our  sex;  and  I 
had  long  fixed  on  my  friend  Talbot  as  the  person  best  adapted 
to  command  this  pretty  little,  tight,  fast-sailing,  well-rigged 
smack. 

Unluckily,  Clara,  with  all  her  charms,  had  one  fault,  and 
that,  in  my  eyes,  was  a  very  serious  one.  Clara  did  not  love  a 
sailor.  The  soldiers  she  doted  on.  But  Clara's  predilections 
were  not  easily  overcome,  and  that  which  had  once  taken  root 
grew  up  and  flourished.  She  fancied  sailors  were  not  well  bred; 
that  they  thought  too  much  of  themselves  or  their  ships;  and, 
in  short,  that  they  were  as  rough  and  unpolished  as  they  were 
conceited. 

With  such  obstinate  and  long-rooted  prejudices  against  all  of 
our  profession,  it  proved  no  small  share  of  merit  in  Talbot  to 
overcome  them.  But  as  Clara's  love  for  the  army  was  more 
general  than  particular,  Talbot  had  a  vacant  theatre  to  fight 


320  FRANK    MILPMAT  ;    OR, 

in.  He  began  by  handing  lier  to  dinner,  and  with  modest 
assurance  seated  himself  by  her  side.  But  so  well  wat  he  aware 
of  ^ler  failing,  that  he  never  once  alluded  to  our  uiifortunate 
element;  on  the  contrary,  he  led  her  away  with  every  variety  of 
topics  which  he  found  best  suited  to  her  taste;  so  that  she  was 
at  last  compelled  to  acknowledge  that  he  might  be  one  excep- 
tion to  her  rule,  and  I  took  the  liberty  of  hoping  that  I  might 
be  another. 

One  day  at  dinner,  Talbot  called  me  "  Leander,"  which  in- 
stantly attracted  the  notice  of  the  ladies,  and  an  explanation 
was  demanded ;  but  for  a  time  it  was  evaded,  and  the  subject 
changed.  Emily,  however,  joining  together  certain  imperfect 
reports  which  had  reached  her  ears  through  the  kindness  of 
'  some  friends  of  the  family,"  began  to  suspect  a  rival,  and  the 
next  morning  examined  me  so  closely  on  the  subject,  that,  fear- 
mg  a  disclosure  from  other  quarters,  I  was  compelled  to  make 
a  confession. 

I  told  her  the  whole  history  of  my  acquaintance  with  Euge- 
nia, of  my  last  interview,  and  of  her  mysterious  departure.  I 
did  not  even  omit  the  circumstance  of  her  offering  me  money; 
but  I  concealed  the  probability  of  her  being  a  mother.  I 
assured  her  that  it  was  full  four  years  and  a  half  since  we  had 
met;  and  that  as  she  knew  of  my  engagement,  it  was  unlikely 
we  should  ever  meet  again.  "  At  any  rate,"  I  said,  "  I  shall 
never  seek  her;  and  if  accident  should  ever  throw  me  in  her 
way,  I  trust  I  shall  behave  like  a  man  of  honour." 

I  did  not  think  it  necessary  to  inform  her  of  the  musket-shots 
fired  at  me  by  order  of  Talbot,  as  that  might  have  injured  him 
in  the  estimation  of  both  Emily  and  Clara.  Wlien  I  had  con- 
cluded my  narrative,  Emily  sighed  and  looked  very  grave.  I 
asked  her  if  she  had  forgiven  me. 

"  Conditionally,''  said  she,  "  as  you  said  to  the  mutineers." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICEK.  321 


CHAPTER  XXIII. 

In  all  the  states  of  Europe,  there  are  a  set  of  men  who  assume  from  their  Infancy  a 
pre-eminence  independent  of  their  moral  character.  The  attention  paid  to  them  from 
the  mojnent  of  tlieir  birth,  gives  them  the  idea  that  they  are  formed  for  command,  and 
they  soon  lo:irn  to  consider  themselves  a  distinct  species :  and,  being  secure  of  a  cer- 
tain rank  and  station,  take  no  pains  to  make  themselves  worthy  of  it. 

Raynal. 

It  is  now  time  to  make  ray  reader  acquainted  with  my  new  ship 
and  new  captain.  The  first  was  a  frigate  of  the  largest  class, 
built  on  purpose  to  cope  with  the  large  double-banked  frigates 
of  the  Yankees.  She  carried  thirty  long  twenty-four  pounders 
on  her  main  deck,  and  the  same  number  of  forty-two  pound 
carroiiadcs  on  her  quarter-gangways  and  forecastle. 

I  had  been  a  week  on  board,  doing  duty  during  the  day,  and 
flirting  on  shore,  at  Mr.  Somerville's,  at  Blackhcath,  during  the 
(ivening.  I  had  seen  no  captain  yet,-and  the  first-lieutenant  had 
gone  on  shore  one  morning  to  stretch,  his  legs.  I  was  command- 
ing officer  ;  the  people  were  all  at  their  dinner  ;  it  was  a  driz- 
zling soft  rain,  and  I  was  walking  the  quarter-deck  by  myself, 
when  a  shore-boat  came  alongside  with  a  person  in  plain  clothes. 
I  paid  him  no  attention,  supposing  him  to  be  a  wine  merchant, 
or  a  slop-seller,  come  to  ask  permission  to  serve  the  ship.  The 
stranger  looked  at  the  dirty  man-ropes,  which  the  side-boys 
held  off  to  him,  and  inquired  if  there  was  not  a  clean  pair  ? 
The  lad  replied  in  the  negative  ;  and  the  stranger  perceiving 
there  was  no  remedy,  took  hold  of  the  dirty  ropes  and  ascended 
the  side. 

Reaching  the  quarter-deck,  he  came  up  to  me,  and  showing 
a  pair  of  sulphur-coloured  gloves,  bedaubed  with  tar  and  dirt, 
angrily  observed,  "By  G — ,  sir,  I  have  spoiled  a  new  pair  of 
gloves." 

"  I  always  take  my  gloves  off  when  I  come  up  the  side," 
said  I. 

"  But  I  choose  to  keep  mine  on,"  said  the  stranger.  "  And 
why  could  not  I  have  had  a  pair  of  clean  ropes  ?" 

14t 


322  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  Because,"  said  I,  "  my  orders  are  only  to  give  them  when 
the  side  is  piped." 

"  And  why  was  not  the  side  piped  for  me,  su*  V 

"  Because,  sir,  we  never  pipe  the  side  until  we  know  who  it 
is  for." 

"  As  sure  as  I  shall  sit  in  the  House  of  Peers,  I  will  report 
you  to  your  captain  for  this,"  said  he. 

"  We  only  pipe  the  side  for  officers  in  uniform,"  said  I;  "  and 
I  am  yet  to  learn  by  what  right  you  demand  that  honour." 

"I  am,  sir,"  said  he,  (showing  his  card,)  "*  *  *  *  ^q^ 
Do  you  know  me  now  ?" 

"  Yes,  sir,"  said  I,  "  as  a  gentleman  ;  but  until  1  see  you  in 
a  captain's  uniform,  I  cannot  give  you  the  honours  you  de- 
mand ;"  as  I  said  this,  I  touched  my  hat  respectfully. 

"  Then,  sir,"  said  he,  "  as  sure  as  I  shall  sit  in  the  House  of 
Peers,  I  shall  let  you  know  more  of  this  ;"  and  having  asked 
whether  the  captain  was  on  board,  and  received  an  answer 
in  the  negative,  he  turned  round  and  went  down  the  side  into 
his  boat,  without  giving  me  an  opportunity  of  supplying  him 
with  a  pair  of  clean  ropes.  He  pulled  away  for  the  shore,  and 
I  never  heard  any  thing  more  of  the  dirty  ropes  and  soiled 
gloves. 

This  officer,  I  afterwards  learned,  was  in  the  habit  of  inter- 
larding his  discourse  with  this  darling  object  of  his  ambition  ; 
but  as  he  is  now  a  member  of  the  Upper  House,  it  is  to  be  sup- 
posed he  has  exchanged  the  affidavit  for  some  other.  While  he 
commanded  a  ship,  he  used  to  say  "  As  sure  as  I  shall  sit  in  the 
House  of  Peers,  I  will  flog  you,  my  man  ;"  and  when  this 
denunciation  had  passed  his  lips,  the  punishment  was  never 
remitted.  With  us,  the  reverse  of  this  became  our  by-word  ; 
lieutenants,  midshipmen,  sailors,  and  marines,  asserted  their 
claim  to  veracity  by  saying,  "As  sure  as  I  shall  not  sit  in  the 
House  of  Peers." 

This  was  the  noble  lord,  who,  when  in  the  command  of  his 
majesty's  ships  in  China,  employed  a  native  of  that  country  to 
take  his  portrait.     The  rcsenil)hince  not  having  been  flattering. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  323 

the  artist  was  shai-ply  rebuked  by  liis  patron.  The  poor  mau 
replied,  "  Ai  awe,  master,  how  cau  handsome  face  make,  if 
handsome  face  no  have  got  ?"  This  story  has,  like  many  other 
good  stories,  been  pirated,  and  applied  in  other  cases  ;  but  I 
claim  it  as  the  legitimate  property  of  the  navy,  and  can  vouch 
for  its  origin  as  I  have  related. 

My  messmates  dropped  in  one  after  another  until  our  number 
was  completed  :  and  at  length  a  note,  in  au  envelope  addressed 
to  the  first-lieutenant  "  on  service,"  and  marked  on  the  lower  left 
hand  corner  with  the  name  of  the  noble  writer,  announced  that 
our  captain  would  make  his  appearance  on  the  following  day. 
We  were  of  course  prepared  to  receive  him  in  our  full  uniforms, 
with  our  cocked  hats  and  swords,  with  the  marine  guard  under 
arms.  He  came  alongside  at  half-past  twelve  o'clock,  when  the 
men  were  at  dinner,  an  unusual  hour  to  select,  as  it  is  not  the 
custom  ever  to  disturb  them  at  their  meals  if  it  can  be  avoided. 
He  appeared  in  a  sort  of  undress  frock  coat,  fall  down  collar, 
anchor  buttons,  no  epaulets,  and  a  lancer's  cap,  with  a  broad 
gold  band. 

This  was  not  correct,  but  as  he  was  a  lord,  he  claimed  privi- 
lege, and  on  this  rock  of  privilege  we  found  afterwards  that  he 
always  perched  himself  on  every  occasion.  We  were  all  pre- 
sented to  him  ;  and  to  each  he  condescended  to  give  a  nod. 
His  questions  were  all  confined  to  the  first-lieutenant,  and  all 
related  to  his  own  comforts.  "  Where  is  my  steward  to  lie  ? 
where  is  my  valet  to  sleep  ?  where  is  ray  cow-peu  ?  and  where 
are  my  sheep  to  be  ?"  We  discovered  when  he  had  been  one 
hour  in  our  company,  that  his  noble  self  was  the  god  of  his 
idolatry.  As  for  the  details  of  the  ship  and  her  crew,  masts, 
rigging,  stowage,  provisions,  the  water  she  would  carry,  and 
how  much  she  drew,  they  were  subjects  on  which  he  never 
fatigued  his  mind. 

One  hour  having  expired,  since  he  had  come  on  board,  he 
ordered  his  boat,  and  returned  to  the  shore,  and  we  saw  no 
more  of  him  until  we  arrived  at  Spit  head,  when  his  lordship 
came  on  board,  accompanied  by  a*  person  whom  we  soon  dis- 


324  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

covered  was  a  half-pay  purser  in  the  navy  ;  a  man  who,  by  dint 
of  the  grossest  flattery  and  numerous  Uttle  attentions,  had  so 
completely  ingratiated  himself  with  his  patron,  that  he  had 
become  as  necessary  an  appendage  to  the  travelling  equipage, 
as  the  portmanteau  or  the  valet-de-chambre.  This  despicable 
toady  was  his  lordship's  double  ;  he  was  a  living  type  of  the 
Gnatho  of  Terence  ;  and  I  never  saw  him  without  remember- 
ing the  passage  that  ends  "  si  negai  id  qiwqne  mgoP  Black  was 
white,  and  white  was  black  with  toady,  if  his  lordship  pleased; 
he  messed  in  the  cabin,  did  much  mischief  in  the  ship,  and 
only  escaped  kicking,  because  he  was  too  contemptible  to  be 
kicked. 

My  fair  readers  are  no  doubt  anxious  to  know  how  I  parted 
with  Emily,  and  truly  I  am  not  unwilling  to  oblige  them, 
though  it  is,  indeed,  a  tender  subject.  As  soon  as  we  received 
our  orders  to  proceed  to  Spithead,  Mr.  Somerville,  who  had 
kept  his  house  at  Blackheath  while  the  ship  was  fitting,  in 
hopes  that  my  promotion  might  have  taken  place  before  she 
was  ready,  now  prepared  to  quit  the  place.  To  the  renewed 
application  of  my  father,  the  answer  was  that  I  must  go  abroad 
for  my  promotion.  This  at  once  decided  him  to  break  up  his 
summer  quarters,  very  wisely  foreseeing  that  unless  he  did  so,  my 
services  would  be  lost  to  my  ship  :  and  if  he  and  Emily  did  not 
leave  me  behind  at  Woolwich,  I  should  probably  be  left  behind 
by  my  captain  :  he  therefore  announced  his  intended  departure 
within  twenty-four  hours. 

Emily  was  very  sorry,  and  so  was  I.  I  kindly  reproached 
her  with  her  cruelty,  but  she  replied,  witli  a  degree  of  firmness 
and  good  sense,  which  I  could  not  but  admire,  that  she  had  but 
one  counsellor,  and  that  was  her  father,  and  that  until  she  was 
married,  she  never  intended  to  have  any  other  ;  that  by  his 
advice  she  had  delayed  the  union  :  and  as  we  were  neither  of 
us  very  old  people,  "  I  trust  in  God,"  said  she,  "  we  may  meet 
again."  I  admired  her  heroism,  gave  her  one  kiss,  handed  her 
into  the  carriage,  and  we  shook  hands.  I  need  not  say  I  saw  a 
tear  or  two  in  her  eyes.     Mr.  Somerville  saw  the  shower  com- 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  325 

ing  on,  pulled  up  the  glass,  gave  me  a  friendly  nod,  and  the 
carriage  drove  off.  The  last  I  saw  of  Emily  at  that  time  was 
her  right  hand,  which  carried  her  handkerchief  to  her  eyes. 

After  the  dear  inmates  were  gone,  I  turned  from  the  door  of 
the  house  in  disgust,  and  ran  direct  to  my  boat,  like  a  dog  with 
a  tin-kettle.  When  I  got  on  board,  I  hated  the  sight  of  every 
body,  and  the  smell  of  every  thing  :  pitch,  paint,  bilge-water, 
tar,  and  rum,  entering  into  horrible  combination,  had  conspired 
against  me  :  and  I  was  as  sick  and  as  miserable  as  the  most 
love-sick  seaman  can  conceive.  I  have  before  observed  that  we 
had  arrived  at  Spithead,  and  as  I  have  nothing  new  to  say  of 
that  place,  I  shall  proceed  to  sea. 

We  sailed  for  the  North  American  station,  the  pleasantest  I 
could  go  to  when  away  from  Emily.  Our  passage  was  tedious, 
and  we  were  put  on  short  allowance  of  water.  Those  only  who 
have  known  it  will  understand  it.  All  felt  it  but  the  captain, 
who,  claiming  privilege,  took  a  dozen  gallons  every  day  to 
bathe  his  feet  in,  and  that  water,  when  done  with,  was  greedily 
sought  for  by  the  men.  There  was  some  murmuring  about  it, 
which  came  to  the  captain's  ears,  who  only  observed,  with  an 
apathy  peculiar  to  Almack's, 

"  Well,  you  know,  if  a  man  has  no  privilege,  what's  the  use 
of  being  a  captain  ?" 

"  Very  true,  my  lord,"  said  the  toad-eater,  with  a  low  bow. 

I  will  now  give  a  short  description  of  his  lordship.  He  was 
a  smart,  dapper,  well-made  man,  with  a  handsome,  but  not  an 
intellectual  countenance  ;  cleanly  and  particular  in  his  person  ; 
and,  assisted  by  the  puffs  of  Toady,  had  a  very  good  opinion  of 
himself  ;  proud  of  his  aristocratic  birth,  and  still  more  vain  of 
his  personal  appearance.  His  knowledge  on  most  points  was 
snperficial — high  life,  and  anecdotes  connected  with  it,  were 
the  usual  topics  of  his  discourse  ;  at  his  own  table  he  generally 
engrossed  all  the  conversation  :  and  while  his  guests  drank  his 
wine,  "  they  laughed  with  counterfeited  glee,"  &c.  His  reading 
was  comprised  in  two  volumes  octavo,  being  the  Memoirs  of 
the   Count  de  Grammont,   which  amusing   and    aristocratical 


326  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

work  was  never  out  of  his  hand.  He  had  been  many  years  at 
sea  ;  but  strange  to  say,  knew  nothing,  literally  nothing  of  his 
profession.  Seamanship,  navigation,  and  every  thing  connected 
with  the  service,  he  was  perfectly  ignorant  of.  1  had  heard 
him  s23oken  of  as  a  good  officer,  before  he  joined  us  ;  and  I. 
must,  in  justice  to  him,  say  that  he  was  naturally  ^-ood-tem- 
pered,  and  I  believe  as  bi'ave  a  man  as  ever  drew  a  sword. 

He  seldom  made  any  professional  remark,  being  aware  of  his 
deficiency,  and  never  ventured  beyond  his  depth  intentionally. 
When  he  came  on  the  quarter-deck,  he  usually  looked  at  the 
weather  main-brace,  and  if  it  was  not  as  tant  as  a  bar,  would 
order  it  to  be  made  so.  Here  he  could  not  easily  commit  him- 
self ;  but  it  became  a  by-word  with  us  when  we  laughed  at  him 
below.  He  had  a  curious  way  of  forgetting,  or  pretending  to 
forget,  the  names  of  men  and  things,  I  presume,  because  they 
were  so  much  beneath  him  ;  and  in  their  stead,  substituted  the 
elegant  phrases  of  "  what's-his-name,"  "  what-do-ye-call-'em,"  and 
"  thingumbob." 

One  day  he  came  on  deck  and  actually  gave  me  the  following- 
very  intelligible  order.  "  Mr.  What's-his-name,  have  the  good- 
ness to — what-do-ye-call-'em — the — the  thingumbob." 

"  Ay,  ay,  my  lord,"  said  I.  "  Afterguard  !  haul  taut  the 
weather  maiu-brace."     This  was  exactly  what  he  meant. 

He  was  very  particular  and  captious,  when  not  properly 
addressed.  When  an  order  is  given  by  a  commanding  officer 
it  is  not  unusual  to  say,  "  Very  good,  sir  ;"  implying  that  you 
perfectly  understand,  and  are  going  cheerfully  to  obey  it.  I 
had  adopted  this  answer,  and  gave  it  to  his  lordship  when  I 
received  an  order  from  him,  saying,  "  Very  good,  my  lord." 

"  Mr.  Mildmay,"  said  his  lordship,  "  I  don't  suppose  you 
mean  any  tlnng  like  disrespect,  but  I  will  thank  you  not  to 
make  that  answer  again  :  it  is  for  me  to  say  '  very  good,'  and 
not  you.  You  seem  to  approve  of  my  order,  and  I  don't  like 
it  ;  1  beg  you  will  not  do  it  again,  you  know." 

"Very  good,  my  lord,"  said  I,  so  inveterate  is  habit.  "I 
beg  your  lordship's  pardon,  I  mean  very  well." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  327 

"  I  dou't  much  like  that  young  man,"  said  bis  lordsliip  to  his 
toady,  who  followed  him  up  and  down  the  quarter-deck,  like 
"  the  bob-tail  cur,"  looking-  his  master  in  the  face.  I  did  not 
hear  the  answer,  but  of  course  it  was  an  echo. 

The  first  time  we  reefed  topsails  at  sea,  the  captain  was  on 
deck  :  he  .said  nothing  but  merely  looked  on.  The  second  time, 
we  found  he  had  caught  all  the  words  of  the  first-lieutenant, 
and  repeated  them  in  a  loud  and  pompous  voice,  without  know- 
ing whether  they  were  applicable  to  the  case  or  not.  The 
third  time  he  fancied  he  was  able  to  go  alone,  and  down  he  fell 
— he  made  a  sad  mistake  indeed.  "  Hoist  away  the  fore-top- 
sail," said  the  first-lieutenant.  "  Hoist  away  the  fore-topsail," 
said  the  captain.  The  men  were  stamping  aft,  and  the  topsail 
yards  travelling  up  to  the  mast-head  very  fast,  when  they  were 
stopped 'by  a  sudden  check  with  the  fore-topsail  haul-yards. 

"  What's  the  matter  ?"  said  the  first-lieutenant,  calUng  to 
me,  who  was  at  my  station  on  the  forecastle. 

"  Something  foul  of  the  topsail  tie,"  I  replied. 

"  What's  the  matter  forward  ?"  said  the  captain. 

"  Topsail-tic  is  foul,  my  lord,"  answered  the  first-lieutenant. 

"  D — n  the  topsail-tie  !  cut  it  away.  Out  knife  there,  aloft  1 
I  wUl  have  the  topsail  hoisted  ;  cut  away  the  topsail-tie." 

For  the  information  of  my  land  readers,  I  should  observe 
that  the  topsail-tie  was  the  very  rope  which  was  at  that  mo- 
ment suspending  the  yard  aloft.  The  cutting  it  would  have 
disabled  the  ship  until  it  could  have  been  repaired  ;  and  had 
the  order  been  obeyed,  the  topsail-yard  itself  would,  in  all  pro- 
bability, have  been  sprung  or  broke  in  two  upon  the  cap. 

We  arrived  at  Halifax  without  falling  in  with  an  enemy  ; 
and  as  soon  as  the  ship  was  secured,  I  went  on  shore  to  visit 
all  my  dear  Dulcineas,  every  one  of  whom  I  persuaded,  that 
on  her  account  alone  I  had  used  my  utmost  interest  to  be  sent 
out  on  the  station.  Fortunately  for  them  and  for  me,  I  was 
not  long  permitted  to  trifle  away  my  time.  We  were  ordered 
to  cruise  on  the  coast  of  North  America.  It  was  winter, 
and  very  cold  ;  we  encountered  many  severe  gales  of  wind. 


328  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

during  which  time  we  suffered  much  from  the  frequent  and 
sudden  snow-storms,  north-east  gales,  and  sharp  frosts,  which 
rendered  our  running-rigging  almost  unmanageable,  and  obliged 
u&  to  pour  boiling  water  into  the  sheaves  of  the  blocks  to  thaw 
them  and  allow  the  ropes  to  traverse  ;  nor  did  the  cold  per- 
mit the  captain  to  honour  us  with  his  presence  on  deck  more 
than  once  in  the  twenty-four  hours. 

We  anchored  off  a  part  of  the  coast,  which  was  not  in  a 
state  of  defence,  and  the  people  being  unprotected  by  their 
own  government,  considered  themselves  as  neutrals,  and  sup- 
plied us  with  as  much  fish,  poultry,  and  vegetables  as  we 
required.  While  we  lay  here,  the  captain  and  oflficers  fre- 
quently went  on  shore  for  a  short  time  without  molestation. 
One  night,  after  the  captain  had  returned,  a  snow-storm  and 
a  gale  of  wind  came  on.  The  captain's  gig,  which 'ought  to 
have  been  hoisted  up,  was  not ;  she  broke  her  painter,  and 
went  adrift,  and  had  been  gone  some  time  before  she  was. 
missed.  The  next  morning,  on  making  inquiry,  it  was  found 
that  the  boat  had  drifted  on  shore,  a  few  miles  from  where 
we  lay  ;  and  that  having  been  taken  possessior^  of  by  the 
Americans,  they  had  removed  her  to  a  hostile  part  of  the 
coast,  twenty-two  miles  off.  The  captain  was  very  much 
annoyed  at  the  loss  of  his  boat,  which  he  considered  as  his 
own  private  property,  although  built  on  board  by  the  king's 
men,  and  with  the  king's  plank  and  nails. 

"  As  my  private  property,"  said  his  lordship,  "it  ought  to  be 
given  up,  you  know." 

I  did  not  tell  him  that  I  had  seen  the  sawyers  cutting  an 
anchor-stock  into  the  plank  of  which  it  was  built,  and  that 
the  said  plank  had  been  put  down  to  other  services  in  the 
expense-book.  This,  however,  was  no  business  of  mine  ;  nor 
had  1  any  idea  that  the  loss  of  this  little  boat  would  so  nearly 
produce  my  final  catastrophe  ;  so  it  was,  however,  and  very 
serious  results  took  place  in  consequence  of  this  accident. 

"They  musi  respect  private  property,  you  know,"  said  the 
captain  to  the  first-lieutenaut. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  329 

"  Yes,"  answered  the  lieutenant ;  "  but  they  do  not  know 
that  it  is  private  property." 

"  Very  true  :  then  1  will  send  and  tell  them  so  ;"  and  down 
he  went  to  his  dinner. 

The  yawl  was  ordered  to  be  got  ready,  and  hoisted  out 
at  daylight,  and  I  had  notice  give  me  that  I  was  to  go  away 
in  her.  About  nine  o'clock  the  next  morning,  I  was  sent  for 
into  the  cabin  ;  his  lordship  was  still  in  bed,  and  the  green 
silk  curtains  were  drawn  close  round  his  cot. 

"  Mr.  Thingamy,"  said  his  lordship,  "  you  will  take  the 
what's-his  name,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  my  lord,"  said  I. 

"  And  you  will  go  to  that  town,  and  ask  for  my  thing- 
umbob." 

"  For  your  gig,  my  lord,"  said  I. 

"  Yes,  that's  all." 

"  But,  my  lord,  suppose  they  won't  give  it  to  me  ?" 

"  Then  take  it." 

"  Suppose  the  gig  is  not  there,  my  lord,  and  if  there,  sup- 
pose tliey  refuse  to  give  it  up  ?" 

"  Then  take  every  vessel  out  of  the  harbour." 

"  Very  well,  my  lord.  Am  I  to  put  the  gun  in  the  boat  ? 
or  to  take  muskets  only  ?" 

"  Oh,  no,  no  arms — take  a  flag  of  truce — No.  8  (white  flag) 
will  do." 

"  Suppose  they  will  not  accept  the  flag  of  truce,  my  lord  ?" 

"  Oh,  but  they  will  ;  they  always  respect  a  flag  of  truce,  you 
know." 

"  I  beg  your  lordship's  pardon,  but  I  think  a  few  muskets 
in  the  boat  would  be  of  service." 

"  Xo,  no,  no — no  arms.  You  will  be  fighting  about  nothing. 
You  have  your  orders,  sir." 

"  Yes,"  thinks  I,  "  I  have.  If  I  succeed,  I  am  a  robber : 
if  I  fail,  I  am  liable  to  be  hanged  on  the  first  tree." 

I  left  the  cabin,  and  went  to  the  first-lieutenant.  I  told 
him   what    my   orders   were.     This   oflicer    was,    as   I   before 


330  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

observed,  a  man  who  had  no  friends,  and  was  therefore  entirely 
dependent  on  the  captain  for  his  promotion,  and  was  afraid 
to  act  contrary  to  his  lordship's  orders,  however  absurd.  I 
told  him,  that  whatever  might  be  the  captain's  orders,  I  would 
not  go  without  arms. 

"The  orders  of  his  lordship  must  be  obeyed,"  said  the  lieu- 
tenant. 

"  Why,"  said  T,  irritated  at  this  folly,  "  you  are  as  clever  a 
fellow  as  the  skipper." 

This  he  considered  so  great  an  affront,  that  he  ran  down 
to  his  cabin,  saying,  "  You  shall  hear  from  me  again  for  this, 
sir." 

I  concluded  that  he  meant  to  try  me  by  a  court-martial, 
to  which  I  had  certainly  laid  myself  open  by  this  unguarded 
expression  ;  but  I  went  on  the  quarter-deck,  and,  during  his 
absence,  got  as  many  muskets  into  the  boat  as  I  wanted,  with 
a  proper  proportion  of  ammunition.  This  was  hardly  com- 
pleted before  the  lieutenant  came  up  again,  and  put  a  letter 
into  my  hands;  which  was  no  more  than  the  very  comfortable 
intelligence,  that,  on  my  return  from  the  expedition  on  which 
I  was  then  going,  he  should  exjaect  satisfaction  for  the  affront 
I  had  offered  him.  I  was  glad,  however,  to  find  that  it  was  no 
worse.  I  laughed  at  his  threat  ;  and,  as  the  very  head  and 
front  of  my  offending  was  only  having  compared  him  to  the 
captain,  he  could  not  show  any  resentment  openly,  for  fear 
of  displeasing  his  patron.  In  short,  to  be  offended  at  it,  was 
to  offer  the  greatest  })ossib]e  affront  to  the  man  he  looked 
up  to  for  promotion,  and  tJms  destroy  all  his  golden  pros- 
pects. 

As  I  put  this  well-timed  challenge  into  my  pocket,  I  walked 
down  the  side,  got  into  my  boat,  and  j)ut  off.  It  wanted 
but  one  hour  of  sun-set  when  I  readied  the  part  where  this 
infernal  gig  was  supposed  to  be,  and  the  sky  gave  strong- 
indications  of  an  approaching  gale.  Indeed,  I  do  not  beUeve 
another  captain  in  the  navy  could  have  Ijeen  found,  who,  at 
such  a  season  of  the  year,  would  have  risked  a  boat  so  far 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFICER.  331 

from  the  ship  ou  an  enemy's  coast  and  a  lee-shore,  for  such 
a  worthless  oljject. 

My  crew  consisted  of  twenty  men  and  a  midshipman.  When 
we  arrived  off  the  mouth  of  the  harljour,  we  perceived  four 
vessels  lying  at  anchor,  and  pulled  directly  in.  We  had,  how- 
ever, no  opportunity  of  trying  our  flag  of  truce,  for  as  soon 
as  we  came  within  rang-e  of  nmsket-sliot,  a  volley  from  two 
hundred  concoah;d  militiamen  struck  down  four  of  my  men. 
There  was  then  nothing  left  for  it  but  to  board,  and  bring 
out  the  vessels.  Two  of  them  were  aground,  and  we  set  them 
on  fire,  it  being  dead  low  water  (thanks  to  the  delay  in  the 
morning) ;  in  doing  this,  we  had  more  men  wounded.  I  then 
took  possession  of  the  other  two  vessels,  and  giving  one  of 
them  in  charge  of  the  midshipman,  who  was  quite  a  lad,  I 
desired  him  to  weigh  his  anchor.  I  gave  him  the  boat,  with 
all  the  men  except  four,  which  I  kept  with  me.  The  poor 
fellow  i)robably  lost  more  men,  for  he  cut  his  cables,  and 
got  out  before  me.  I  weighed  my  anchor,  but  had  one  of 
my  men  killed  by  a  musket  ball,  in  doing  it.  I  stood  out 
after  the  midshipman.  We  had  gained  an  offing  of  four  miles, 
when  a  violent  gale  and  snow-storm  came  on.  The  sails 
belonging  to  the  vessel  all  blew  to  rags  immediately,  being 
very  old.  I  had  no  resource,  except  to  anchor,  which  I  did 
on  a  bank,  in  five  fathoms  water.  The  other  vessel  lost  all 
her  sails,  and  having  no  anchor,  as  I  then  conjectured,  and 
afterwards  learned,  drifted  ou  shore,  and  was  dashed  to  pieces, 
the  people  being  -either  frozen  to  death,  wounded,  or  taken 
prisouers. 

The  next  morning  I  could  see  the  vessel  lying  on  shore  a 
wreck,  covered  with  ice.  A  dismal  prospect  to  me,  as  at  that 
lime  I  knew  not  what  had  become  of  the  men  My  own  situa- 
tion w^as  even  less  enviable  ;  the  vesstj  was  frail,  and  deeply 
laden  with  salt  ;  a  cargo,  which,  if  it  by  any  means  gets  wet, 
is  worse  than  water,  since  it  cannot  be  pumped  out,  and  be- 
comes as  heavy  as  lead  ;  nothing  could  in  that  event  have 
kept  the  vessel  afloat,  and  we  had  no  l)oat  in  cuse  of  such  an 


332  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

accident.  I  had  three  men  with  me,  besides  tlie  dead  body  in 
the  cabin,  and  a  pantiy  as  clear  as  any  empty  house  ;  not  an 
article  of  any  description  to  eat.  I  was  four  miles  from  the 
shore,  in  a  heavy  gale  of  wind,  the  jDleasure  of  which  was 
enhanced  by  snow,  and  the  bitterest  cold  I  ever  experienced. 
We  proceeded  to  examine  the  vessel,  and  found  that  there  was 
on  board  a  quantity  of  sails  and  canvas,  that  did  not  fit,  but 
had  been  bought  with  an  intention  of  making  up  for  this  vessel, 
and  not  before  she  wanted  them  ;  there  was  also  an  abundance 
of  palms,  needles,  and  twine  ;  but  to  eat,  there  was  nothing 
except  salt,  and  to  drink,  nothing  but  one  cask  of  fresh  water. 
We  kindled  a  fire  in  the  cabin,  and  mads  ourselves  as  warm  as 
we  could,  taking  a  view  on  deck  now  and  then,  to  see  if  she 
drove,  or  if  the  gale  abated.  She  pitched  heavily,  taking  in 
whole  seas  over  the  forecastle,  and  the  water  froze  on  the  deck. 
The  next  morning  we  had  drifted  a  mile  nearer  to  the  shore, 
and  the  gale  continued  with  unabated  violence.  The  other 
vessel  lay  a  wreck,  with  her  masts  gone,  and  as  it  were  in  ter- 
rorem,  staring  us  in  the  face. 

We  felt  the  most  pinching  hunger  ;  we  had  no  fuel  after  the 
second  day,  except  what  we  pulled  down  from  the  bulkheads  of 
the  cabin.  We  amused  ourselves  below,  making  a  suit  of  sails 
for  the  vessel,  and  drinking  hot  water  to  repel  tlie  cold.  But 
this  work  could  not  have  lasted  long  ;  the  weather  became 
more  intensely  cold,  and  twice  did  we  set  the  prize  on  fire,  in 
our  liberality  with  the  stove  to  keep  ourselves  warm.  The  ice 
formed  on  the  surface  of  the  water  in  our  kettle,  till  it  was  dis- 
solved by  the  heat  from  tlie  bottom.  The  second  night  passed 
like  the  first  ;  and  we  found,  in  the  morning,  that  we  had 
drifted  within  two  miles  of  the  shore.  We  completed  our  little 
sails,  tliis  day,  and  witli  great  difficulty  contrived  to  bend 
them. 

The  men  were  now  exhausted  with  cold  and  hunger,  and 
proi)osed  that  we  should  cut  our  cable  and  run  on  shore  ;  but 
1  begged  them  to  wait  till  the  next  morning,  as  these  gales 
seldom  lasted  long.     "^Phis  they  agreed  to  :  and  we  again  hud- 


THE    NAVAL   OFFICER,  333 

died  together  to  keep  ourselves  warm,  the  outside  man  pulling 
the  dead  man  close  to  him  by  way  of  a  blanket.  The  gale  this 
night  moderated,  and  towards  the  morning  the  weather  was 
fine,  although  the  wind  was  against  us,  and  to  beat  her  up 
to  the  ship  was  impossible.'  From  the  continued  freezing  of 
the  water,  the  bob-stays  and  the  rigging,  were  coated  with 
ice  five  or  six  inches  thick,  and  the  forecastle  was  C9vered 
with  two  feet  of  clear  ice,  showing  the  ropes  coiled  underneath 
it. 

There  was  no  more  to  be  done  :  so,  desiring  the  men  to  cut 
the  cable,  I  made  up  my  mind  to  run  the  vessel  on  shore,  and 
give  myself  up.  We  hoisted  the  foresail,  and  I  stood  in  with 
the  intention  of  surrendering  myself  and  the  people  at  a  large 
town  which  I  knew  was  situated  about  twelve  miles  farther  on 
the  coast.  To  have  given  myself  up  at  the  place  where  the 
vessels  had  been  captured,  I  did  not  think  would  have  been 
prudent. 

When  we  made  sail  on  the  third  morning,  we  had  drifted 
within  half  a  mile  of  the  shore,  and  very  near  the  place  we  had 
left.  Field  pieces  had  been  brought  down  to  us.  They  had  the 
range,  but  they  could  not  reach  us.  I  continued  to  make  more 
sail,  and  to  creep  along  shore,  until  I  came  within  a  few  cables' 
length  of  the  pier,  where  men,  women,  and  children  were 
assembled  to  see  us  laud  ;  when  suddenly  a  snow-storm  came 
on  :  the  wind  shifted,  and  blew  with  such  violence,  that  I  could 
neither  see  the  port,  nor  turn  the  vessel  to  windward  into  it : 
and  as  I  knew  I  could  not  hold  my  own,  and  that  the  wind  was 
fair  for  our  ship,  then  distant  about  forty  miles,  we  agreed  to 
up  helm  and  scud  for  her. 

This  was  well  executed.  About  eleven  at  night  we  hailed 
her,  and  asked  for  a  boat.  They  had  seen  us  approaching,  and 
a  boat  instantly  came,  taking  us  all  on  board  the  frigate,  and 
leaving  some  fresh  hands  in  charge  of  the  prize. 

I  was  mad  with  hunger,  and  cold,  and  with  diflficulty  did  we 
get  up  the  side,  so  exhausted  and  feeble  were  the  whole  of  us. 
[  was  ordered  down  into  the  cabin,  for  it  was  too  cold  for  the 


334  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

captain  to  show  his  face  on  deck.  I  found  his  lordship  sitting 
before  a  good  fire,  with  his  toes  in  the  grate  ;  a  decanter  of 
madeira  stood  on  the  table,  with  a  wine  glass,  and  most  fortu- 
nately, though  not  intended  for  my  use,  a  large  rummer.  This 
I  seized  with  one  hand  and  the  decanter  with  the  other  ;  and, 
filling  a  bumper,  swallowed  it  in  a  moment,  without  even  drink- 
ing his  lordship's  good  health. 

He  stared,  and  I  believe  thought  me  mad.  I  certainly  do 
own  that  my  dress  and  appearance  perfectly  corresponded  with 
my  actions.  I  had  not  been  washed,  shaved  or  cleaned,  since 
I  had  left  the  ship,  three  days  before.  My  beard  was  grown, 
my  cheeks  hollow,  my  eyes  sunk,  and  for  my  stomach,  I  leave 
that  to  those  fortiraate  Frenchmen  who  escaped  from  the  Rus- 
sian campaign,  who  only  can  appreciate  my  sufferings.  My 
whole  haggard  frame  was  enveloped  in  a  huge  blue  flushing 
coat,  frosted  Jike  a  plum  cake,  with  ice  and  snow. 

As  soon  as  I  could  speak,  I  said,  "  I  beg  pardon,  my  lord, 
but  I  have  had  nothing  to  eat  or  drink  since  I  left  the  ship." 

"  Oh,  then  you  are  very  welcome,"  said  his  lordship  ;  '*  I 
never  expected  to  see  you  again." 

"  Then  why  the  devil  did  you  send  me  ?"  thought  I  to 
myself 

During  this  short  dialogue,  I  had  neither  been  offered  a  chair 
nor  any  refreshment,  of  which  I  stood  so  much  in  need  ;  and  if  I 
had  been  able,  I  should  have  been  kept  standing  while  I  related 
my  adventures.  I  was  about  to  commence,  when  the  wine  got 
into  my  head  ;  and  to  support  myself,  I  leaned,  or  rather  stag- 
gered, on  the  back  of  a  chair. 

"  Never  mind  now,"  said  the  captain,  apparently  moved  from 
his  listless  apathy  by  my  situation  ;  "go  and  make  yourself 
comfortable,  and  I  will  hear  it  all  to-morrow." 

This  was  the  only  kind  thing  he  had  ever  done  for  me  ;  and 
it  came  so  apropos,  that  I  felt  grateful  to  him  for  it,  thanked 
him,  and  went  below  to  the  gun-room,  whore,  notwithstanding 
all  I  had  heard  and  read  of  the  dangers  of  repletion  after  long- 
abstinence,  I  ate  voraciously,  and  drank  proportionably,  ever 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  '  335 

and  anon  telling  my  astonished  mess-mates,  who  were  looking 
on,  what  a  narrow  escape  the  dead  body  had  of  being  dissected 
and  broiled.  This,  from  the  specimen  of  my  performance,  they 
had  no  difficulty  in  believing.  I  recommended  the  three  men 
who  had  been  with  me  to  the  care  of  the  surgeon  ;  and,  with 
his  permission,  presented  each  of  them  with  a  pint  of  hot 
brandy  and  water,  well  sweetened,  by  way  of  a  night-cap. 
Having  taken  these  precautions,  and  satisfied  the  cravings 
of  nature  on  my  own  part,  as  well  as  the  cravings  of  curiosity 
on  that  of  my  messmates,  I  went  to  bed,  and  slept  soundly  till 
the  next  day  at  noon. 

Thus  ended  this  anomalous  and  fatal  expedition  :  an 
ambassador  sent  with  the  sacred  emblem  of  peace,  to  commit 
an  act  of  hostility  under  its  protection.  To  have  been  taken 
•under  such  circumstances,  would  have  subjected  us  to  be  hung 
like  dogs  on  the  first  tree  ;  to  have  gone  unarmed, 'would  have 
been  an  act  of  insanity,  and  I  therefore  took  upon  me  to  disobey 
an  unjust  and  absurd  order.  This,  however,  must  not  be 
pleaded  as  an  example  to  juniors,  but  a  warning  to  seniors  how 
they  give  orders  without  duly  weighing  the  consequences  :  the 
safest  plan  is  always  to  obey.  Thus  did  his  majesty's  service 
lose  eighteen  fine  fellows,  under  much  severe  suffering,  for  a 
boat,  "  the  private  'propevty"  of  the  captain,  not  worth  twenty 
pounds. 

The  next  day,  as  soon  as  I  was  dressed,  the  first-lieutenant 
sent  to  speak  to  me.  I  then  recollected  the  little  affair  of  the 
challenge.  "A  delightful  after-piece,"  thought  I,  "to  the 
tragedy,  to  be  shot  by  the  first-lieutenant  only  for  calling  him 
as  clever  a  fellow  as  the  captain."  The  lieutenant,  however, 
had  no  such  barbarous  intentions  ;  he  had  seen  and  acknow- 
ledged the  truth  of  my  observation,  and,  being  a  well-meaning 
north-countryman,  he  offered  me  his  hand,  which  I  took  with 
pleasure,  having  had  quite  enough  of  stimulus  for  that  time. 


336  FRANK   MILDMAY  ;    OR, 


CHAPTER  XXIV. 

Bell. — You  have  an  opportunity  now,  madam,  to  revenge  yourself  upon  him  for 
affronting  your  squirrel. 
Belin. — Oh,  the  filthy,  rude  beast. 
Aram. — 'Tis  a  lasting  quarrel. 

Old  Bachelor. 

We  sailed  the  next  day,  and  after  one  month  more  of  unsuc- 
cessful cruising,  arrived  safe  at  Halifax,  where  I  was  informed 
that  an  old  friend  of  my  father's.  Sir  Hurricane  Humbug,  of 
whom  some  mention  has  already  been  made  in  this  work,  had 
just  arrived.  He  was  in  an  official  character,  but  had  come  out 
to  look  after  his  own  property.  It  is  absolutely  necessary  that 
I  should  here,  with  more  than  usual  formality,  introduce  the 
reader  to  an  intimate  acquaintance  with  the  character  of  Sir 
Hurricane.  • 

Sir  Hurricane  had  risen  in  life  by  his  own  ingenuity,  and  the 
patronage  of  a  rich  man  in  the  south  of  England  :  he  was  of  an 
ardent  disposition,  and  was  an  admirable  justice  of  peace,  when 
the  argumentum  baculinum  was  required,  for  which  reason  he 
had  been  sent  to  reduce  two  or  three  refractory  establishments 
to  order  and  obedience  ;  and  by  his  firmness  and  good  humour, 
succeeded.  His  tact  was  a  little  knowledge  of  every  thing 
(not  like  Solomon's,  from  the  hyssop  to  the  cedar),  but  from 
the  boiler  of  a  potato  to  the  boiler  of  a  steamboat,  and  from 
catching  a  sprat  to  catching  a  whale  :  he  could  fatten  pigs  and 
poultry,  and  had  a  peculiar  way  of  improving  the  size,  though 
not  the  breed  of  the  latter;  in  short,  he  was  "jack  of  all  trades, 
and  master  of  none." 

I  shall  not  go  any  farther  back  with  his  memoirs,  than  the 
day  he  chose  to  teach  an  old  woman  how  to  make  mutton  broth. 
He  had,  in  the  course  of  an  honest  discharge  of  his  duty,  at  a 
certain  very  dirty  sea-port  town,  incurred  the  disi)leasure  of  the 
lower  orders  generally  :  he  nevertheless  would  omit  no  oppor- 
tunity of  doing  good,  and  giving  advice  to  the  poor,  gratis. 
One  day  he  saw  a  woman  emptying  the  contents  of  a  boiling 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  331 

kettle  out  of  her  door  into  the  street.  He  approached,  and 
saw  a  leg  of  mutton  at  the  bottom,  and  the  untlirifl y  housewife 
throwing  away  the  liquor  in  which  it  had  been  boiled. 

"  Good  woman,"  said  the  economical  baronet,  "  do  you  know 
what  you  are  doing  ?  A  handful  of  meal,  a  couple  of  carrots, 
and  a  couple  of  turnips,  cut  up  into  dice,  and  thrown  into  that 
liquor,  with  a  little  parsley,  would  make  excellent  mutton-broth 
for  your  family." 

.  The  old  woman  looked  up,  and  saw  the  ogre  of  the  dock- 
yard ;  and  either  by  losing  her  presence  of  mind,  or  by  a  most 
malignant  slip  of  the  hand,  she  contrived  to  pour  a  part  of  the 
boiling  water  into  the  shoes  of  Sir  Hurricane.  The  baronet 
jumped,  roared,  hopped,  stamped,  kjcked  off  his  shoes,  and  ran 
home,  d — ning  the  old  woman,  and  himself  too,  for  having  tried 
to  teach  her  how  to  make  mutton-broth.  As  he  ran  off,  the 
ungrateful  hag  screamed  after  him,  "  Sarves  you  right  ;  teach 
you  to  miud  your  own  business." 

The  next  day,  in  his  magisterial  ^capacity,  he  commanded  the 
attendance  of  "  the  dealer  in  slops."  "  Well,  madam,  what 
have*you  got  to  say  for  yourself,  for  scalding  one  of  his  majesty's 
justices  of  the  peace  ?  don't  you  know  that  I  have  the  power  to 
commit  you  to  Maidstone  jail  for  the  assault  ?" 

"  I  beg  your  honour's  j^ardon,  humbly,"  said  the  woman  ;  "  I 
did  not  know  it  was  your  honour,  or  I  am  sure  I  wouldn't 
a  done  it  ;  besides,  I  own  to  your  honour,  I  had  a  drop  too 
much." 

The  good-natured  baronet  dismissed  her  with  a  little  suits  ble 
advice,  which  no  doubt  the  good  woman  treated  as  she  did  that 
relative  to  the  muttou-broth. 

My  acquaintance  with  Su'  Hurricane  had  commenced  at  Ply- 
mouth, when  he  kicked  our  ship  to  sea  in  a  gale  of  wind,  for 
fear  we  should  ground  on  our  beef  bones.  I  never  forgave  him 
for  that.  My  father  had  shown  him  great  civility,  and  had 
introduced  me  to  him.  When  at  Halifax,  we  resided  in  the 
same  house  with  a  mutual  friend,  who  had  always  received  me 
as  his  own  son.     He  had  a  son  of  my  own  age,  with  whom  I 

15 


338  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

had  long  been  on  terms  of  warm  friendship,  and  Ned  and  I  con- 
federated against  Sir  Hurricane.  Having  paid  a  few  visits 
en  passant,  as  I  landed  at  the  King's  Wharf,  shook  hands  with 
a  few  pretty  girls,  and  received  their  congratulation  on  my  safe 
return,  I  went  to  the  house  of  my  friend,  and,  without  ceremony, 
wallied  into  the  drawing-room. 

"  Do  you  know,  sir,"  said  the  footman,  "  that  Sir  Hurricane 
is  in  his  room  ?  but  he  is  very  busy,"  added  the  man  with  a 
smile. 

"  Busy  or  not,"  said  I,  "  I  am  sure  he  will  see  me  ;"  so  in  I 
walked. 

Sir  Hurricane  was  employed  on  something,  but  I  could  not 
distinctly  make  out  what.  He  had  a  boot  between  his  knees 
and  the  calves  of  his  legs,  which  he  pressed  together,  and  as  he 
turned  his  head  round,  I  perceived  that  he  held  a  knife  between 
his  teeth. 

"  Leave  the  door  open,  messmate,"  said  he,  without  taking 
the  least  notice  of  me.  Then,  rising,  he  drew  a  large  black  tom- 
cat, by  the  tail,  out  of  the  boot,  and  flinging  it  away  from  him 
to  a  great  distance,  which  distance  was  rapidly  increased  by  the 
voluntary  exertion  of  the  cat,  which  ran  away  as  if  it  had  been 
mad,  "  There,"  said  he,  "  and  be  d — d  to  you,  you  have  given 
me  more  trouble  than  a  whole  Kentucky  farm-yard  ;  but  I 
shall  not  lose  my  sleep  any  more,  by  your  d — d  cater- 
wauling." 

All  this  was  pronounced  as  if  he  had  not  seen  me — in  fact,  it 
was  a  soliloquy,  for  the  cat  did  not  stay  to  hear  it.  "  Ah  1" 
said  he,  holding  out  his  hand  to  me,  "  how  do  you  do  ?  I  know 
your  face,  but  d — n  me  if  I  have  not  forgot  your  name." 

"  My  name,  sir,"  said  I,  "is  Mildmay." 

"  Ah,  Mildmay,  my  noble,  how  do  you  do  ?  how  did  you  leave 
your  father  ?  I  knew  him  very  well — used  to  give  devilish 
good  feeds^ — many  a  plate  I've  dirtied  at  his  table — don't  care 
how  soon  I  put  my  legs  under  it  again  ; — take  care,  mind  which 
way  you  put  your  helm — you  will  be  aboard  of  my  chickabid- 
dies— don't  run  athwart  hawse." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  339 

I  fouud,  Oil  looking  down,  that  I  had  a  string  round  my  leg, 
which  fastened  a  chicken  to  the  table,  and  saw  many  more  of 
these  little  creatnves  attached  to  the  chairs  in  the  room  ;  but 
for  what  purpose  they  were  thus  domesticated  I  could  not  dis- 
cover. 

"  Are  these  pet  chickens  of  yours,  Sir  Hurricane  ?"  said  I. 

"  'No,"  said  the  admiral,  "  but  I  mean  them  to  be  pet  capons, 
by-and-by,  wheu  they  come  to  table.  I  have  finished  a  dozen 
and  a  half  this  morning,  besides  that  d — d  old  tom-caL" 

The  mystery  was  now  explained,  and  I  afterwards  fouud  out 
(every  man  having  his  hobby)  that  the  idiosyncrasy  of  this  offi- 
cer's disposition  had  led  him  to  the  practice  of  neutralizing  the 
males  of  any  species  of  bird  or  beast,  in  order  to  render  them 
more  palatable  at  the  table. 

'*  Well,  sir,"  he  continued,  "  how  do  you  like  your  new  ship 
— how  do  you  like  your  old  captain  ? — ^good-  fellow,  isn't  he  ? — 
d — n  his  eyes — countryman  of  mine — I  knew  him  when  his 
father  hadn't  as  much  money  as  would  jingle  on  a  tombstone. 
That  fellow  owes  every  thing  to  me.     I  introduced  him  to  the 

Duke  of ,  and  he  got  on  by  that  interest  ;  but,  I  say,  what 

do  you  think  of  the  Halifax  girls  ? — nice,  a'u't  they  ?" 

I  expressed  my  admh'ation  of  them. 

"  Ay,  ay,  they'll  do,  won't  they  ? — we'll  have  some  fine  fun — 
give  the  girls  a  party  at  George's  Island — hay-making — green 
gowns — ha,  ha,  ha  !  I  say,  your  captain  shall  give  us  a  party 
at  Turtle  Cove.  We  are  going  to  give  the  old  commissioner 
a  feed  at  the  Rockingham — blow  the  roof  off  his  skull  with 
champagne  ;  do  you  dine  at  Birch  Cove  to  day  ?  No,  /  sup- 
pose you  are  engaged  to  Miss  Maria,  or  Miss  Susan,  or  Miss 
Isabella — ha,  sad  dog,  sad  dog — done  a  great  deal  of  mischief," 
surveying  me  from'head  to  foot. 

I  took  the  liberty  of  returning  him  the  same  compliment  ;  he 
was  a  tall,  raw-boned  man,  with  strongly  marked  features,  and  a 
smile  on  his  countenance  that  no  modest  woman  would  endure. 
In  his  person  he  gave  me  the  idea  of  a  discharged  life-guards- 
man ;  but  from  his  face  you  might  have  supposed  that  he  had 


340  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

sat  for  one  of  Rubens'  Satyrs.  He  was  one  of  those  people 
with  whom  you  became  immediately  acquainted  ;  and  before  I 
had  been  an  hour  in  his  company,  I  laughed  very  heartily  at  his 
jokes — not  very  delicate,  I  own,  and  for  which  he  lost  a  con- 
siderable portion  of  my  respect ;  but  he  was  a  source  of  con- 
stant amusement  to  me,  living  as  we  did  in  the  same  house. 

I  was  just  going  out  of  the  room  when  he  stopped  me — "  I 
say,  how  should  you  like  to  be  introduced  to  some  devilish  nice 
Yankee  sdrls,  relations  of  mine,  from  Philadelphia  ?  and  I  should 
be  obliged  to  you  to  show  them  attention  ;  very  pretty  girls,  I 
can  tell  you,  and  will  have  good  fortunes — -you  may  go  farther 
and  fare  worse.  The  old  dad  is  as  rich  as  a  Jew — got  the  gout 
in  both  legs — can't  hold  out  much  longer — nice  pickings  at  his 
money  bags,  while  the  devil  is  picking  his  bones." 

There  was  no  withstanding  such  inducements,  and  I  agreed 
that  he  should  present  me  the  next  day. 

Our  dialogue  was  interrupted  by  the  master  of  the  house  and 
his  son,  who  gave  me  a  hearty  welcome  ;  the  father  had  been 
a  widower  for  some  years,  and  his  only  son  Ned  resided  with 
him,  and  was  intended  to  succeed  to  his  business  as  a  merchant. 
We  adjourned  to  dress  for  dinner  ;  our  bed-rooms  were  conti- 
guous, and  we  began  to  talk  of  Sir  Hurricane. 

"He  is  a  strange  mixture,"  said  Ned.  "  I  love  him  for  his 
good  temper  ;  but  I  owe  him  a  grudge  for  making  mischief  be- 
tween me  and  Mai"ia  ;  besides  he  talks  balderdash  before  the 
ladies,  and  annoys  them  very  much." 

"  I  owe  him  a  grudge  too,"  said  I,  "  for  sending  me  to  sea  in 
a  gale  of  wind." 

"  We  shall  both  be  quits  with  him  before  long,"  said  Ned  ; 
"  but  let  us  now  go  and  meet  him  at  dinner.  To-morrow  T 
will  set  the  housekeeper  at  him  for  his  cruelty  to  her  cat  ; 
and  if  I  am  not  much  mistaken,  she  will  pay  him  off  for  it." 

Dinner  passed  off  extremely  well.  The  admiral  was  in  high 
spirits  ;  and  as  it  was  a  bachelor's  party,  he  earned  his  wine. 
The  next  morning  we  met  at  breakfast.  When  that  was  over, 
the  master  of  the  house  retired  to  his  office,  or  pretended  to  do 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  341 

SO.  I  was  going  out  to  walk,  but  Ned  said  I  bad  better  stay  a 
few  minutes  ;  he  had  something  to  say  to  me  ;  in  fact  he  had 
prepared  a  treat  without  my  knowing  it. 

"  How  did  you  sleep  last  night,  Sir  llurricane  ?"  said  the  art- 
ful Ned  ? 

"  Why,  pretty  well,  considering,"  said  the  admiral,  "  I  was 
not  toriucnted  by  that  old  tom-cat.  D — n  me,  sir,  that  fellow 
was  like  the  grand  seignior,  and  he  kept  his  seraglio  in  the  gar- 
ret over  my  bed-room,  instead  of  being  at  his  post  in  the  kitchen, 
killing  the  rats  that  are  running  about  like  coach-horses." 

"  Sir  Hurricane,"  said  I,  "  it's  always  unlucky  to  sailors,  if 
they  meddle  with  cats.  You  will  have  a  gale  of  wind,  in  some 
shape  or  another,  before  long." 

These  words  were  hardly  uttered,  when,  as  if  by  preconcerted 
arrangement,  the  door  opened,  and  in  sailed  Mrs.  Jellybag,  the 
housekeeper,  an  elderly  woman,  somewhere  in  the  latitude  of 
fifty-five  or  sixty  years.  With  a  low  courtesy  and  contemptuous 
toss  of  her  head,  she  addressed  Sir  Hurricane  Humbug  : 

"  Pray,  Sir  Hurricane,  what  have  you  been  doing  to  my  cat  ?" 

The  admiral,  who  prided  himself  in  putting  any  one  who 
applied  to  him  on  what  he  called  the  wrong  scent,  endeavoured 
to  play  off"  Mrs.  Jellybag  in  the  same  manner. 

"  What  have  I  done  to  your  cat,  my  dear  Mrs.  Jellybag  ? 
Why,  my  dear  Madam,"  (said  he,  assuming  an  air  of  surprise,) 
"  what  slwuld  I  do  to  your  cat  ?" 

"  You  should  liave  left  him  alone,  Mr.  x\dmiral ;  that  cat  was 
my  property ;  if  my  master  permits  you  to  ill  treat  the  poultry, 
that's  his  concern  ;  but  that  cat  was  mine.  Sir  Hurricane — 
mine,  every  inch  of  him.  The  animal  has  been  ill-treated,  and 
sits  moping  in  the  corner  of  the  fireplace,  as  if  he  was  dying  ; 
he'll  never  be  the  cat  he  was  again." 

"I  don't  think  he  ever  will,  my  dear  Mrs.  Housekeeper," 
answered  the  admiral,  dryly. 

The  lady's  wrath  now  began  to  kindle.  The  admiral's  cool 
replies  were  like  water  sprinkled  upon  a  strong  flame,  increasing 
its  force,  instead  of  checking  it. 


342  FRANK    MILDMAY  1    OR, 

"  Don't  dear  me,  Sir  Hurricane.  I  am  not  one  of  your  dears 
— your  dears  are  all  in  Dutchtown — more  shame  for  you,  an  old 
man  like  you." 

"  Old  man  !"  cried  Sir  Hurricane,  losing  bis  placidity  a  little. 

"Yes,  old  man  ;  look  at  your  hair — as  gray  as  a  goose's." 

"  Why,  as  for  my  hair,  that  proves  nothing,  Mrs.  Jellybag, 
for  though  there  may  be  snow  on  the  mountains,  there  is  still 
heat  in  the  valleys.     What  d'ye  think  of  my  metaphor  ?" 

"  I  am  no  more  a  metafore  than  yourself.  Sir  Hurricane  ;  but 
I'll  tell  you  what,  you  are  a  cock-and-hen  admiral,  a  dog-in-the. 
raanger  barrowknight,  who  was  jealous  of  my  poor  tom-cat, 

because 1  won't  say  what.     Yes,  Sir  Hurricane,  all  hours 

of  the  day  you  are  leering  at  every  young  woman  that  passes, 
out  of  our  windows — and  an  old  man  too  ;  you  ought  to  be 
ashamed  of  yourself — and  then  you  go  to  church  of  a  Sunday, 
and  cry,  '  Good  Lord,  deliver  us.' " 

The  housekeeper  now  advanced  so  close  to  the  admiral,  that 
her  nose  nearly  touched  his,  her  arms  a-kimbo,  and  every  pre- 
paration for  boarding.  The  admiral,  fearing  she  might  not  con- 
fine herself  to  vocality,  but  begin  to  beat  time  with  her  fists, 
tliought  it  right  to  take  up  a  position  ;  he  therefore  very  dex- 
terously took  two  steps  in  the  rear,  and  mounted  on  a  sofa  ;  his 
left  was  defended  by  an  upright  piano,  his  right  by  the  break- 
fast table,  with  all  the  tea  things  on  it :  his  rear  was  against 
the  wall,  and  his  front  depended  on  himself  in  person.  From 
this  commanding  eminence  he  now  looked  down  on  the  house" 
keeper,  whose  nose  could  reach  no  higher  than  the  seals  of  her 
adversary's  watch  ;  and  in  proportion  as  the  baronet  felt  his 
security,  so  rose  his  choler.  Having  been  for  many  years  Proc- 
tor at  the  great  universities  of  Point-street  and  Blue-town,  as 
well  as  members  of  Barbican  and  North  Corner,  he  was  per- 
fectly qualified,  in  point  of  classical  dialect,  to  maintain  -the  hon- 
our of  his  profession.  Nor  was  the  lady  by  any  means  delicient. 
Although  she  had  not  taken  her  degree,  her  tongue,  from  con- 
stant use,  had  acquired  a  fluency  which  nature  only  concedes  to 
practice. 


THE    XAVAI,    OFFICER.  343 

It  will  not  be  expected,  nor  would  it  be  proper,  that  I  should 
repeat  all  that  passed  in  this  concluding  scene,  in  which  the 
housekeeper  gave  us  good  reason  to  suppose  that  she  was  not 
quite  so  ignorant  of  the  nature  of  the  transaction  as  she  would 
liave  us  believe. 

The  battle  having  raged  for  half  an  hour  with  great  fury, 
both  parties  desisted,  for  want  of  breatii,  and  consequently  of 
ammunition.  This  produced  a  gradual  cessation  of  firing,  and 
by  degrees  the  ships  separated — the  admiral,  like  Lord  Howe  on 
the  first  of  June,  preserving  his  position,  though  very  much 
mauled  ;  and  the  housekeeper,  like  the  Montague;  running  down 
to  join  her  associates,  A  few  random  shots  were  exchanged  as 
they  parted,  and  at  every  second  or  third  step  on  the  stairs, 
Mrs.  Margaret  brought  to,  and  fired,  until  both  were  quite  out 
of  range  ;  a  distant  rumbling  noise  was  heard,  and  the  admiral 

concluded,  by  muttering  that  she  might  go ,  somewhere, 

but  the  word  died  between  his  teeth. 

"  There,  admiral,"  said  I,  "  did  not  I  tell  you  that  you  would 
have  a  squall  I" 

"  Squall  ?  yes,  d — n  my  blood,"  wiping  his  face  ;  "  how  the 
spray  flew  from  the  old  beldame  !  Who'd  ever  thought  that 
such  a  purring  old  b — ^h  could  have  shown  such  a  set  of  claws  ! 
War  to  the  knife  !  By  heavens,  I'll  make  her  remember 
this." 

Notwithstanding  the  admiral's  threat,  hostilities  ceased  from 
that  day.  The  cock-and-hen  admiral  found  it  convenient  to  show 
a  white  feather  ;  interest  stood  in  the  way,  and  barred  him  from 
taking  his  revenge.  Mrs.  Jellybag  was  a  faithful  servant,  and 
our  host  neither  liked  that  she  should  be  interfered  witli,  or  that 
his  house  should  become  on  arena  for  such  conflicts  ;  and  the 
admiral,  who  was  peculiarly  tenacious  of  undrawing  the  strings 
of  his  purse,  found  it  convenient  to  make  the  first  advances- 
The  affair  was,  therefore,  amicably  arranged — the  tom-cat  was, 
in  consideration  of  his  sufferings,  created  a  baronet,  and  was 
ever  afterwards  dignified  by  the  title  of  Sir  H.  Humbug  ;  who 
certainly  was  the  most  eligible  person  to  select  for  godfather, 


344  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

as  he  had  taken  the  most  effectual  means  of  weaning  him  from 
"  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  this  wicked  world." 

It  was  now  about  one  o'clock,  for  this  dispute  had  run  away 
with  the  best  part  of  the  morning,  when  Sir  Hurricane  said, 
"  Come,  youngsters,  don't  forget  your  engagements — you  know 
I  have  got  to  introduce  you  to  my  pretty  cousins — you  must 
mind  your  P's  and  Q's  with  the  uncle,  for  he  is  a  sensible  old 
lellow — has  read  a  great  deal,  and  thinks  America  the  first  and 
greatest  country  in  the  world." 

We  accordingly  proceeded  to  the  residence  of  the  fair 
strangers,  whom  the  admiral  assured  me  had  come  to  Halifax 
from  mere  curiosity,  under  the  protection  of  their  uncle  and  aunt. 
We-  knocked  at  the  door,  and  the  admiral  inquired  if  Mrs. 
M'Flinn  was  at  home;  we  were  answered  in  the  affirmative. 
The  servant  asked  our  names.  "  Yice-admiral  Sir  Hurricane 
Humbug,"  said  I,  "  and  Mr.  Mildmay." 

The  drawing-room  door  was  thrown  open,  and  the  man  gave 
our  names  with  great  propriety.  In  we  walked;  a  tall,  grave- 
looking,  elderly  lady  received  us,  standing  bolt  upright  in  the 
middle  of  the  room;  the  young  ladies  were  seated  at  their  work. 

"  My  dear  Mrs.  M'Flinn,"  said  the  admiral,  "how  do  you  do? 
I  am  delighted  to  see  you  and  your  fair  nieces  lookhig  so  lovely 
this  morning."  The  lady  bowed  to  this  compliment — a  courtesy 
she  was  not  quite  up  to — "  Allow  me  to  introduce  my  gallant 
young  friend,  Mildmay — young  ladies,  take  care  of  your  hearts 
— he  is  a  great  rogue,  I  assure  you,  though  he  smiles  so  sweet 
upon  you." 

Mrs.  M'Flinn  bowed  again  to  me,  hoped  I  was  very  well,  and 
inquired  "  how  long  I  had  been  in  these  parts." 

I  replied  that  I  had  just  returned  from  a  cruise,  but  that  I 
was  no  stranger  in  Halifax. 

"  Come,  officer,"  said  tlie  admiral,  taking  me  by  the  arm,  "  I 
see  you  are  bashful — I  must  make  you  acquainted  with  my 
pretty  cousins.  This,  sir,  is  Miss  M'Flinn — her  Christian  name 
is  Deliverance.  She  is  a  young  lady  whose  beauty  is  her  least 
recorarapndation." 


THE    XAVAL    OFFICER.  345 

"  A  very  equivocal  coinplirnent,"  thought  I. 

"  This,  sir,  is  Miss  Jemima;  this  is  Miss  Temperance;  and  this 
is  Miss  Deborah.  Now  that  you  know  them  all  by  name,  and 
they  know  you,  I  hope  you  will  contrive  to  make  yourself  both 
useful  and  agTeeuble."' 

"A  very  pretty  sinecure,"  thinks  I  to  myself,  "just  as  if  I 
had  not  my  hands  full  already."  However,  as  I  never  wanted 
small  talk  for  pretty  faces,  I  began  with  Jemima.  They  were 
all  pretty,  but  she  was  a  love — yet  there  was  an  awkwardness 
about  them  that  convinced  me  they  were  not  of  the  hon  ton  of 
Philadelphia.  The  answers  to  all  my  questions  were  quick,  pert, 
and  given  with  an  ah'  of  assumed  consequence;  at  the  same  time 
I  observed  a  mode  of  expression,  which,  though  English,  was 
not  well-bred  English. 

"  Did  you  come  through  the  United  States,"  said  I,  "  into  the 
British  territory,  or  did  you  come  by  water  ?" 

"  Oh,  by  water,"  screamed  all  the  girls,  at  once,  "  and  liked 
to  have  been  eaten  up  with  the  nasty  roaches." 

I  did  not  exactly  know  what  was  meant  by  "  roaches,"  but 
it  was  explained  to  me  soon  after.  I  inquired  whether  they  had 
seen  a  British  man-of-war,  and  whether  they  would  like  to  ac- 
company me  on  board  of  that  which  I  belonged  to  ?  They  all 
screamed  out  at  the  same  moment — 

"  No,  we  never  have  seen  one,  and  should  like  to  see  it  of  all 
things.     When  will  you  take  us  ?" 

"To-morrow,"  said  I,  "  if  the  day  should  prove  fine." 

Here  the  admiral,  who  had  been  making  by-play  with  the  old 
chaperon,  turned  round,  and  said  : — 

"  Well,  Mr.  Frank,  I  see  you  are  getting  on  pretty  well  with- 
out my  assistance." 

"  Oh,  we  all  like  hun  very  much,"  said  Temperance;  "  and  he 
says  he  will  take  us  on  board  his  ship." 

"  Softly,  my  dear,"  said  tlie  aunt :  "  we  must  not  think  of  giv 
ing  the  gentleman  the  trouble,  until  we  are  better  acquainted." 

"  I  am  svu'e,  aunt,"  said  Deborah,  "  we  are  very  well  ac 
quainted." 

15* 


346  PRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  Then,"  said  the  aunt,  seeing  she  was  m  the  minority, 
"suppose  you  and  Sir  Hurricane  come  and  breakfast  with 
us  to-morrow  morning  at  eleven  o'clock,  after  which,  we  shall  all 
be  very  much  at  your  service." 

Here  the  admiral  looked  at  me  with  one  of  his  impudent  leers, 
and  burst  into  a  loud  laugh ;  but  I  commanded  my  countenance 
very  well,  and  rebuked  him  by  a  steady  and  reserved  look. 

"  I  shall  have  great  pleasure,"  said  I,  to  the  lady,  "  in  obey- 
ing your  orders  from  eleven  to-morrow  morning,  till  the  hour  of 
dinner,  when  I  am  engaged." 

So  saying,  we  both  bowed,  wished  them  a  good  morning,  and 
left  the  room.  The  door  closed  upon  us,  and  I  heard  them  all 
exclaim — "  What  a  charming  young  man  !" 

I  went  on  board,  and  told  the  first-lieutenant  what  I  had 
done  ;  he,  very  good-naturedly,  said  he  would  do  his  best,  though 
the  ship  was  not  in  order  for  showing,  and  would  have  a  boat 
ready  for  us  at  the  dock-yard  stairs  at  one  o'clock  the  next 
day. 

I  went  to  breakfast  at  the  appointed  hour.  The  admiral  did 
not  appear,  but  the  ladies  were  all  in  readiness,  and  I  was  intro- 
duced to  their  uncle — a  plain,  civil-spoken  man,  with  a  strong 
nasal  twang.  The  repast  was  very  good  ;  and  as  I  had  a  great 
deal  of  work  before  me,  I  made  hay  while  the  sun  shone.  When 
the  rage  of  hunger  had  been  a  little  appeased,  I  made  use  of 
the  first  belle  to  inquire  if  a  lady  whom  I  once  had  the  honour 
of  knowmg,  was  any  relation  of  theirs,  as  she  bore  the  same 
name,  and  came,  like  them,  from  Philadelphia. 

"  Oh,  dear,  yes,  indeed,  she  is  a  relation,"  said  all  the  ladies 
together;  "we  have  not  seen  her  this  seven  years;  when  did  you 
see  her  last  ?" 

I  replied  that  we  had  not  met  for  some  time;  but  that  the 
last  time  I  had  heard  of  her,  she  was  seen  by  a  friend  of  mine 
at  Turin  on  the  Po.  The  last  syllable  was  no  sooner  out  of  my 
mouth,  than  tea,  coffee,  and  chocolate  was  out  of  theirs,  all 
spirting  different  ways,  just  like  so  many  young  grampuses. 
They  jumped  up  from  the  table  and  ran  away  to  their  rooms, 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  34 T 

convulsed  with  laughter,  leaving  me  alone  with  their  uncle.  I 
was  all  amazement,  and  I  own,  I  felt  a  little  annoyed. 

1  asked  if  I  had  made  auji  serious  lapsus,  or  said  any  thing 
very  ridiculous  or  indelicate  ;  if  I  had,  I  said  I  should  never  for- 
give myself. 

"  Sir,"  said  Mr.  MTlinn,  "  I  am  very  sure  you  meant  nothing 
indelicate  ;  but  the  refined  society  of  Philadelphia,  in  which 
these  young  ladies  have  been  educated,  attaches  very  different 
meanings  to  certain  words,  to  what  you  do  iu  the  old  country. 
The  back  settlements,  for  instance,  so  called  by  our  ancestors, 
we  call  the  western  settlement,  and  we  apply  the  same  term,  by 
analogy,  to  the  human  figure  and  dress.  This  is  a  mere  little 
explanation,  which  you  will  take  as  it  is  meant.  It  cannot  be 
expected  that  ^foreigners'  should  understand  the  niceties  of  our 
luuguagc." 

I  begged  pardon  for  my  ignorance ;  and  assured  him  I  would 
be  more  cautious  in  future.  "  But  pray,  tell  me,"  said  I, 
"what  there  was  in  my  last  observation  which  could  have 
caused  so  much  mirth  at  my  expense  ?" 

"Why,  sir,"  said  Mr.  M'Flinn,  "you  run  me  hard  there:  but 
since  you  force  me  to  explain  myself,  I  must  say  that  you  used 
a  word  exclusively  confined  to  bed-chambers  !" 

"  But  surely,  sir,"  said  I,  "you  will  allow  that  the  name  of  a 
celebrated  river,  renowned  in  the  most  ancient  of  our  histories, 
is  not  to  be  changed  from  such  a  refiued  notion  of  false  de- 
licacy ?" 

"There  you  are  wrong,"  said  Mr.  M'Flinn.  "The  French, 
who  are  our  instructors  in  every  thing,  teach  us  how  to  name 
all  these  things  ;  and  I  think  you  will  allow  that  they  under- 
stand true  politeness." 

I  bowed  to  this  dictum,  only  observing,  that  there  was  a 
point  in  our  language  where  delicacy  became  indelicate  ;  that  I 
thought  the  noble  river  had  a  priority  of  claim  over  a  cou- 
temptiblc  vessel  ;  and,  reverting  to  the  former  part  of  his  dis- 
course, I  said  that  we  in  England  were  not  ashamed  to  call 
things  by  their  proper  names  ;  and  that  we  considered  it  a 


348  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

great  mark  of  ill-breeding  to  go  round  abont  for  a  substitute 
for  a  common  word,  the  vulgar  import  of  which  a  well-bred 
and  modest  woman  ought  never*to  have  known. 

The  old  gentleman  felt  a  little  abashed  at  this  rebuke,  and  to 
relieve  him,  I  changed  the  subject,  hoping  that  the  ladies  would 
forgive  me  for  this  once,  and  return  to  their  breakfasts. 

"Why,  as  for  that  matter,"  said  the  gentleman,  "the  Phila- 
delphia ladies  have  very  delicate  appetites,  and  I  dare  say  they 
have  had  enough." 

Finding  I  was  not  likely  to  gain  ground  on  that  tack,  I 
steered  my  own  course,  and  finished  my  breakfast,  comforting 
myself  that  much  execution  had  been  done  by  the  ladies  on  the 
commissariat  department,  before  the  "Po"had  made  its  ap- 
pearance. 

By  the  time  I  had  finished,  the  ladies  had  composed  them- 
selves ;  and  the  pretty  Jemima  had  recovered  the  saint-like 
gravity  of  her  lovely  mouth.  Decked  in  shawls  and  bonnets, 
they  expressed  much  impatience  to_  be  gone.  We  walked  to 
the  dock-yard,  where  a  boat  with  a  midshipman  attended,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  conveyed  us  alongside  of  my  ship.  A  painted 
cask,  shaped  like  a  chair,  with  a  whip  from  the  main  yard-arm, 
was  let  down  into  the  boat  ;  and  I  carefully  packed  the  fair 
creatures,  two  at  a  time,  and  sent  them  up.  There  was  a  good 
deal  of  giggling,  and  screaming,  and  loud  laughing,  which 
rather  annoyed  me  ;  for  as  they  were  not'  my  friends,  I  had  no 
wish  that  my  messmates  should  think  that  they  belonged 
to  that  set  in  Halifax  in  which  I  was  so  kindly  received. 

At  length  all  were  safely  landed  on  the  quarter-deck,  with- 
out the  exposure  of  an  ankle,  which  they  all  seemed  to  dread. 
Whether  their  ankles  were  not  quite  so  small  as  Mr.  M'Flinn 
wished  me  to  suppose  their  appetites  were,  I  cannot  say. 

"  La  I  aunt,"  said  Deborah,  "  when  I  looked  up  in  the  air, 
and  saw  you  and  Deliverance  dangling  over  our  hea"3s,  I 
thought  if  the  rope  was  to  break,  what  a  '  squash '  you  would 
have  come  on  us  :   1  am  sure  you  would  have  paunched  us." 

Determined  to  have  the  Philadelphia  version  of  this  elegant 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  349 

phrase,  I  inquired  what  it  meant,  and  was  informed  that,  in 
their  country,  wheu  any  one  had  his  bowels  squeezed  out,  they 
called  it  " paunc/ii7ig." 

"  Well,"  thouglit  I,  "  after  this,  you  might  swallow  the 
Po  without  spoiling  your  breakfasts."  The  band  struck  up 
"  Yankee  Doodle,"  the  ladies  were  in  ecstasy,  and  began  to 
caper  round  the  quarter-deck. 

"  La  !  Jemima,"  said  Deborah,  "  what  have  you  done  to 
the  western  side  of  your  gown  ?  it  is  all  over  white." 

This  was  soon  brushed  off,  but  the  expression  was  never  for- 
gotten in  our  ship,  and  always  ludicrously  applied. 

Having  shown  them  the  ship  and  all  its  wonders,  I  was 
glad  to  conduct  them  back  to  the  shore.  When  I  met  the 
admiral,  I  told  him  I  had  done  the  honours,  and  hoped  the 
next  time  he  had  any  female  relatives,  he  would  keep  his  en- 
gagements, and  attend  to  them  lijjnself. 

"  Why,  now,  who  do  you  think  they  are  ?"  said  the  ad- 
miral. 

"  Think  !"  said  I,  "  why  who  should  they  be  but  your 
Yankee  cousins  ?" 

"  Why,  was  you  such  a  d — d  flat  as  to  believe  what  I  said, 
eh  ?  Why,  their  father  keeps  a  shop  of  all  sorts  in  Philadel- 
phia, and  they  were  going  to  New  York,  on  a  visit  to  some  of 
their  relatives,  when  the  ship  they  were  in  was  taken  and 
brought  in  here." 

"  Then,"  said  I,  "  these  are  not  the  bon-ton  of  Philadel- 
phia V 

"  Just  as  nmch  as  Nancy  Dennis  is  the  bon-ton  of  Halifax," 
said  the  admiral  ;  "  though  the  uncle,  as  I  told  you,  is  a  sen- 
sible fellow  in  his  way." 

"  Very  well,"  said  I ;  "  you  have  caught  me  for  once  ;  but 
remember,  I  pay  you  for  it." 

And  I  was  not  long  in  his  debt.  Had  he  not  given  me  this 
explanation,  I  should  have  received  a  very  false  impression  of 
the  ladies  of  Philadelphia,  and  have  done  them  an  injustice  for 
which  I  should  never  have  forgiven  myself. 


350 


FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 


The  time  of  our  sailing  drew  near.  This  was  always  a  me- 
lancholy time  in  Halifax  ;  but  my  last  act  on  shore  was  one 
which  created  some  mirth,  and  enlivened  the  gloom  of  my  de- 
jjarture.  My  friend  Ned  and  myself  had  not  yet  had  an  oppor- 
tunity of  paying  off  Sir  Hurricane  Humbug  for  telling  tales  to 
Maria,  and  for  his  false  introduction  to  myself.  One  morning 
we  both  came  out  of  our  rooms  at  the  same  moment,  and  were 
proceeding  to  the  breakfast  parlour,  when  we  spied  the  admiral 
performing  some  experiment.  Unfortunately  for  him,  he  was 
seated  in  such  a  manner,  just  clear  of  a  pent-house,  as  to  be 
visible  from  our  position  ;  and  at  the  same  time,  the  collar  of 
his  coat  would  exactly  intersect  the  segment  of  a  circle  de- 
scribed by  any  fluid,  projected  by  us  over  this  low  roof,  which 
would  thus  act  as  a  conductor  into  the  very  pole  of  his 
neck. 

The  housemaid,  (these  h(jusemaids  are  always  the  cause  or 
the  instruments  of  mischief,  either  by  design  or  neglect,)  had  left 
standing  near  the  window  a  pail  nearly  filled  with  dirty  water, 
from  the  wash-hand  basins,  &c.  Ned  and  I  looked  at  each 
other,  then  at  the  pail,  then  at  the  admiral.  Ned  thought 
of  his  Maria  :  I  of  my  false  introduction.  Without  saying  a 
word,  we  both  laid  our  hands  on  the  pail,  and  in  an  instant, 
souse  went  all  the  contents  over  the  admiral.  , 

"  I  say,  what's  this  ?"   he  roared  out.     "  Oh,  you  d d 

rascals  !" 

He  knew  it  could  only  be  us.  We  laughed  so  immoderately, 
that  we  had  not  the  power  to  move  or  to  speak  ;  while  the 
poor  admiral  was  spitting,  sputtering,  and  coughing,  enough  to 
bring  his  heart  up. 

"  You  infernal  villains  1  no  respect  for  a  flag-officer  ?  I'll 
serve  you  out  for  this." 

The  tears  rolled  down  our  cheeks  ;  but  not  with  grief.  As 
soon  as  the  admiral  had  sufficiently  recovered  himself  to  go  in 
pursuit,  we  thought  it  time  to  make  sail.  We  knew  we  were 
discovered  ;  and  as  the  matter  could  not  be  made  worse,  we 
resolved  to  tell  him  wliat  it  was  for.     Ned  began. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  351 

"  How  do  you  do,  admiral  ?  yon  have  taken  a  shower-bath 
this  morning." 

He  looked  up,  with  his  teeth  clenched — "  Oh,  it's  you,  is  it  ? 
Yes,  I  thought  it  could  be  no  one  else.     Yes,  I  have  had  a 

shower-bath,  and  be  d d  to  you,  and  that  sea-devil  of  a 

friend  of  yours.  Pretty  pass  the  service  has  come,  when  officers 
of  my  rank  are  treated  in  this  way.  I'll  make  you  both  envy 
the  tom-cat." 

"  Beware  the  housekeeper,  Admiral,"  said  Ned.  "  Maria 
has  made  it  up  with  me,  Admiral,  and  she  sends  her  love  to  you." 

"  D n  Maria." 

"  Oh,  very  well,  I'll  tell  her  so,"  said  Ned. 

"  Admiral,"  said  I,  "do  you  remember  when  you  sent  the 

to  sea  in  a  gale  of  wind,  when  I  was  midshipman  of  her  ? 

Well,  I  got  just  as  wet  that  night  as  you  are  now.  Pray, 
admiral,  have  you  any  commands  to  the  Misses  M'Flinn  ?" 

"  I'll  tell  you  when  I  catch  hold  of  you,"  said  Sir  Hurricane, 
as  he  moved  up  stairs  to  his  room,  dripping  like  Pope's  Lodona, 
only  not  smelling  so  sweet. 

Hearing  a  noise,  the  housekeeper  came  up,  and  all  the  family 
assembled  to  condole  with  the  humid  admiral,  but  each  en- 
joying the  joke  as  much  as  om'selves.  We,  however,  paid 
rather  dearly  for  it.  The  admiral  swore  that  neither  of  us 
should  eat  or  drink  in  the  house  for  three  days  ;  and  Ned's 
father,  though  ready  to  burst  with  laughter,  was  forced  in  com- 
mon decency  to  say  that  he  thought  the  admiral  perfectly  right, 
after  so  gross  a  violation  of  hospitaUty. 

I  went  and  dined  on  board  my  ship,  Ned  went  to  a  coffee- 
house ;  but  on  the  third  morning  after  the  shower,  I  popped 
my  head  into  the  breakfast  parlour,  and  said, 

"  Admiral,  I  have  a  good  story  to  tell  you,  if  you  will  let  me 
come  in." 

"  I'd  see  you  d d  first,  you  young  scum  of  a  iish-poud. 

Be  off,  or  I'll  shy  the  ham  at  your  head." 

"No,  but  indeed,  my  dear  admiral,  it  is  such  a  nice  story  ; 
it  is  one  just  to  your  fancy." 


352  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  Well,  then,  stand  there  and  tell  it,  but  don't  come  iu,  for 
if  you  do " 

I  stood  at  the  door,  and  told  him  the  story. 

"  Well,  now,"  said  he,  "  that  is  a  good  story,  and  I  will  for- 
give you  for  it."  So  with  a  hearty  laugh  at  my  ingenuity,  he 
promised  to  forgive  us  both,  and  I  ran  and  fetched  Ned  to 
breakfast. 

This  was  the  safest  mode  we  could  have  adopted  to  get 
into  favour,  for  the  admiral  was  a  powerful,  gigantic  fellow, 
that  could  have  given  us  some  very  awkward  squeezes.  The 
peace  was  very  honourably  kept,  and  the  next  day,  the  ship 
sailed. 


CHAPTER   XXV. 

They  turned  into  a  long  and  wide  street,  in  which  not  a  single  living  figure  appeared 
to  break  the  perspective.  Solitude  is  never  so  overpowering  as  when  it  exists  among 
the  works  of  man.  In  old  woods,  or  on  the  tops  of  mountains,  it  is  graceful  and 
benignant,  for  it  is  at  home ;  but  where  thick  dwellings  are,  it  wears  a  ghost-like  aspect. 

Inesili^. 

We  were  ordered  to  look  out  for  the  American  squadron  that 
had  done  so  much  mischief  to  our  trade  ;  and  directed  our 
course  for  this  purpose,  to  the  coast  of  Africa.  We  had  been 
out  about  ten  days,  when  a  vessel  was  seen  from  the  mast-head. 
We  were  at  that  time  within  about  one  hundred  and  eighty 
leagues  of  the  Cape  de  Verd  Islands.  We  set  all  sail  iu  chase, 
and  soon  made  her  out  to  be  a  large  frigate,  who  sefemed  to 
have  no  objection  to  the  meeting,  but  evidently  tried  her  rate 
of  sailing  with  us  occasionally  ;  her  behaviour  left  us  no  doubt 
that  she  was  an  American  frigate,  and  we  cleared  for  action. 

The  captain,  I  believe,  had  never  been  in  a  sea-fight,  or  if  he 
had,  he  had  entirely  forgotten  all  he  had  learned  ;  for  which 
reason,  in  order  to  refresh  his  lueinory,  lie  laid  upon  the 
capstan-head  the  famous  epitome  of  John  Hamilton  Moore, 
now  obsolete,  but  held  at  that  time  to  be  one  of  the  most 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  353 

luminous  authors  who  had  ever  treated  on  maritime  affairs. 
John,  who  certainly  gives  a  great  deal  of  advice  on  every  sub- 
ject, has,  amongst  other  valuable  directions,  told  us  how  to 
bring  a  ship  into  action,  according  to  the  best  and  most 
approved  methods,  and  how  to  take  your  enemy, afterwards,  if 
you  can.  But  the  said  John  must  have  thought  red-hot  shot 
could  be  heated  by  a  process  somewhat  similar  to  that  by  which 
he  heated  his  own  nose,  or  he  must  entirely  have  forgotten  "  the 
manners  and  customs  in  such  cases  used  at  sea,"  for  he  recom- 
mends, as  a  prelude  or  first  course  -to  the  entertainment,  a  good 
dose  of  red-hot  shot,  served  up  the  moment  the  guests  are 
assembled  ;  but  docs  not  tell  us  where  the  said  dishes  are  to  be 
cooked.  No  doubt  whatever,  that  a  broadside  composed  of 
such  ingredients  would  be  a  great  desideratum  in  favour  of  a 
victory,  especially  if  the  enemy  should  happen  to  have  none  of 
his  own  to  give  in  return. 

So  thought  his  lordship,  who,  walking  up  to  the  first-lieute- 
nant, said, 

"  Mr.  Thingamy,  don't  you  think  red-hot  what-do-ye-call-ums, 
should  be  given  in  the  first  broad-side  to  that  thmgumbob  ?" 

"  Red-hot  shot,  do  you  mean,  my  lord  ?" 

"  Yes,"  said  his  lordship  ;  "  don't  you  think  they  would  set- 
tle his  hash  ?" 

"  Where  the  devil  are  we  to  get  them,  my  lord  ?"  said  the 
first-lieutenant,  who  was  not  the  same  that  wanted  to  fight  me 
for  saying  he  was  as  clever  a  fellow  as  the  captain";  that  man 
had  been  unshipped  by  the  machinations  of  Toady. 

"  Very  true,"  said  his  lordship. 

We  now  approached  the  stranger  very  fast,  when,  to  our 
great  mortification,  she  proved  to  be  an  English  frigate,  made 
the  private  signal,  it  was  answered  ;  showed  her  number,  we 
showed  ours,  and  her  captain  being  junior  officer,  came  on  board 
to  pay  his  respects  and  show  his  order.  He  was  three  weeks 
from  England,  brought  news  of  a  peace  with  France,  and  among 
other  treats,  a  navy  list,  which,  next  to  a  bottle  of  Loudon  por- 
ter, is  the  greatest  luxury  to  a  sea  officer  in  a  foreign  climate. 


354  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

Greedily  did  we  all  run  over  this  interesting  little  book,  and 
among  the  names  of  the  new-made  commanders,  I  was  over- 
joyed to  find  my  own  ;  the  last  on  the  list  to  be  sure,  but  that 
I  cared  not  for.  I  received  the  congratulations  of  my  mess- 
mates ;  we  parted  company  with  the  stranger,  and  steered  for 
the  island  of  St.  Jago,  our  captain  intending  to  complete  his 
water  in  Port  Praya  Bay,  previous  to  a  long  cruise  after  the 
American  squadron. 

We  found  here  a  slave  vessel  in  charge  of  a  naval  officer, 
bound  to  England  ;  and  I  thought  this  a  good  opportunity  to 
quit,  not  being  over-anxious  to  serve  as  a  lieutenant  when  I 
knew  I  was  commander.  I  was  also  particularly  anxious  to 
return  to  England  for  many  reasons,  the  hand  of  my  dear 
Emily  standing  at  the  head  of  them.  I  therefore  requested  the 
captain's  permission  to  quit  the  ship  ;  and  as  he  wished  to  give 
an  acting  order  to  one  of  his  own  followers,  he  consented.  I 
took  my  leave  of  all  my  messmates,  and  of  my  captain,  who, 
though  an  unfeeling  coxcomb,  and  no  sailor,  certainly  had  some 
good  points  about  him  ;  in  fact,  his  lordship  was  a  gentleman, 
and  had  his  ship  fallen  in  with  an  enemy,  she  would  have  been 
well  fought,  as  he  had  good  officers,  was  sufficiently  aware  of 
his  own  incapability,  would  take  advice,  and  as  a  man  of 
undaunted  bravery  was  not  to  be  surpassed  in  the  service. 

On  the  third  day  after  our  arrival,  the  frigate  sailed.  I  went 
on  board  the  slaver,  which  had  no  slaves  on  board,  except  four, 
to  assist  in  workmg  the  vessel ;  she  was  in  a  filthy  state,  and 
there  was  no  inn  on  shore,  and  of  course  no  remedy.  Port 
Praya  is  the  only  good  anchorage  in  the  island  ;  the  old  town 
of  St.  Jago  was  deserted,  in  consequence  of  there  being  only  an 
open  roadstead  before  it,  very  unsafe  for  vessels  to  lie  io.  The 
town  of  Port  Praya  is  a  miserable  asseniblnge  of  mud  huts  ;  the 
governor's  house,  and  one  more,  are  better  built,  but  they  are 
not  so  comfortable  as  a  cottage  in  England.  There  were  not 
ten  Portuguese  on  the  island,  and  above  ten  thousand  blacks, 
all  originally  .slaves  ;  and  yet  everything  was  peaceable, 
although  fresh  arrivals  of  slaves  came  every  day. 


THE    NAVAI-    OFFICER.  355 

It  was  eafiy  to  distinguish  the  different  races  :  the  Yatoffes 
are  tali  men,  not  very  stoutly  Ijuilt  ;  most  of  tliem  are  soldiers. 
I  have  seen  ten  of  them  standing  together,  the  lowest  not  less 
than  six  feet  two  or  three  inches.  The  Foulahs,  from  .the 
Ashantoe  country,  are  another  race  ;  they  are  powerful  and 
muscular,  ill-featured,  badly  disposed,  and  treacherous.  The 
Mandingoes  are  a  smaller  race  than  the  others,  but  they  are 
well-disposed  and  tractable. 

This  island  of  slaves  is  kept  in  subjection  by  slaves  only,  who 
are  enrolled  as  soldiers,  miserably  equipped  ;  a  cap  and  a 
jacket  was  all  they  owed  to  art,  nature  provided  the  rest  of 
their  uniform.  The  governor's  orderly  alone  sported  a  pair 
of  trowsers,  and  these  were  on  permanent  duty,  being  trans- 
ferred from  one  to  the  other,  as  their  turn  for  that  service 
came  on. 

I  paid  my  respects  to  the  governor,  who,  although  a  Portu- 
guese, chose  to  follow  the  fashion  of  the  island,  and  was  as 
black  as  most  of  his  subjects.  After  a  few  French  compliments 
I  took  my  leave.  I  was  curious  to  see  the  old  town  of  St. 
Jago,  which  had  been  abandoned  ;  and  after  a  hot  walk  of  two 
hours  over  uncultivated  ground,  covered  with  fine  goats,  which 
are  the  staple  of  the  island,  I  reached  the  desolate  spot. 

It  was  melancholy  to  behold  ;  it  seemed  as  if  the  human  race 
were  extinct.  The  town  was  built  on  a  wide  ravine  running  to 
the  sea  ;  the  houses  were  of  stone,  and  handsome  ;  the  streets 
regular  and  paved,  which  proves  that  it  had  formerly  been  a 
place  of  some  importance  ;  but  it  is  surprising  that  a  spot  so 
barren  as  this  island  generally  is,  should  ever  have  had  any 
mercantile  prosperity.  Whatever  it  did  enjoy,  I  should  con- 
ceive, must  have  been  anterior  to  the  Portuguese  having  sailed 
round  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope  ;  and  the  solidity,  and  even 
elegance  of  construction  among  the  buildings  justifies  the  sup- 
position. 

The  walls  were  massive,  and  remained  entire  ;  the  churches 
were  numerous,  but  the  roofs  of  them  and  the  dwelling-houses 
had   mostly  fallen  in.     Trees   had   grown    to   a   considerable 


356  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

height  ill  the  midst  of  the  streets,  piercing  through  the  pave- 
ments, and  raising  the  stones  on  each  side  ;  and  the  convent 
gardens  were  a  mere  wilderness.  The  cocoanut-tree  had  thrust 
its  head  through  many  a  roof,  and  its  long  stems  through  the 
tops  of  the  houses  ;  the  banana  luxuriated  out  of  the  windows. 
The  only  inhabitants  of  a  town  capable  of  containing  ten  thou- 
sand inhabitants,  were  a  few  friars  who  resided  in  a  miserable 
ruin  which  had  once  been  a  beautiful  convent.  They  were  the 
first  negro  friars  I  had  ever  seen  ;  their  cowls  were  as  black  as 
their  faces,  and  their  hair  grey  and  woolly.  I  concluded  they 
had  adopted  this  mode  of  life  as  being  the  laziest :  but  I  could 
not  discover  by  what  means  they  could  gain  a  livelihood,  for 
there  were  none  to  give  them  anything  in  charity. 

The  appearance  of  these  poor  men  added  infinitely  to  the 
necromantic  character  of  the  whole  melancholy  scene.  There 
was  a  beauty,  a  loveliness  in  these  venerable  ruins,  which 
delighted  me.  There  was  a  solemn  silence  in  the  town  ;  but 
there  was  a  small,  still  voice  that  said  to  me,  "  London  may 
one  day  be  the  same — and  Paris  ;  and  you  and  your  children's 
children  will  all  have  lived  and  had  their  loves  and  adventures  ; 
but  who  will  the  wretched  man  be,  that  shall  sit  on  the  summit 
of  Primrose  Hill,  and  look  down  upon  the  desolation  of  the 
mighty  city,  as  I,  from  this  little  eminence,  behold  the  once 
flourishing  town  of  St.  Jago  ?" 

The  goats  were  browsing  on  the  side  of  the  hill,  and  the  little 
kids  frisking  by  their  dams.  "These,"  thought  I,  "perhaps 
are  the  only  food  and  nourishment  of  these  poor  friars."  I 
walked  to  Port  Praya,  and  returned  to  my  floating  prison,  the 
slave  ship.  The  officer  who  was  conducting  her  home  as  a 
prize,  was  not  a  pleasant  man  ;  I  did  not  like  him  ;  and  nothing 
pas.sed  between  us  Ijut  connnon  civility.  He  was  an  old  mas- 
ter's unite,  who  had  })i'ol)ably  served  his  time  thrice  over  ;  but 
liaving  no  merit  of  his  own,  and  no  friends  to  cause  that  defect 
i,(j  be  overlooked,  he  had  never  obtained  promotion  ;  he  there- 
fore naturally  looked  on  a  young  conunander  with  envy.  He 
had  only  given  mc  a  passage  home,  from  motives  which  he 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  351 

could  not  resist ;  'first,  because  he  was  forced  to  obey  the 
orders  of  my  late  captain  ;  and,  secondly,  because  my  purse 
would  supply  the  cabin  with  the  necessary  stock  of  refreshments 
in  the  shape  of  fruit,  poultry  and  vegetables,  which  are  to  be 
procured  at  Port  Praya  ;  he  was  therefore  under  the  necessity 
of  enduring  ray  company. 

The  vessel,  I  found,  was  not  to  sail  on  the  following  day,  as 
he  intended.  I  therefore  took  my  gun,  at  daybreak,  and  wan- 
dered with  a  guide  up  the  valleys,  in  search  of  the  pintadoes, 
or  Guinea  fowl,  with  which  the  island  abounds  ;  but  they  were 
so  shy  that  I  never  could  get  a  shot  at  them  ;  and  I  returned 
over  the  hills,  which  my  guide  assured  me  was  the  shortest  way. 
Tired  with  my  walk,  I  was  not  sorry  to  arrive  at  a  sheltered 
valley,  where  the  palmetto  and  the  plantain  ofifered  a  friendly 
shade  from  the  burning  sun.  The  guide,  with  wonderful  agility, 
mounted  a  cocoauut-tree,  and  threw  down  half  a  dozen  nuts. 
They  were  green,  and  their  milk  I  thought  the  most  refreshhig 
and  delicious  draught  I  had  ever  taken. 

The  vesper  bells  at  Port  Praya  were  now  summoning  the 
poor  black  friars  to  their  devotion  ;  and  a  stir  and  bustle 
appeared  among  the  little  black  boys  and  girls,  of  whose  pre- 
sence I  was  till  then  ignorant.  They  ran  from  the  coverts,  and 
assembled  near  the  front  of  the  only  cottage  visible  to  my  eye. 
A  tall,  elderly  negro  man  came  out,  and  took  his  seat  on  a 
mound  of  turf  a  few  feet  from  the  cottage  ;  he  was  followed  by 
a  lad,  about  twenty  years  of  age,  who  bore  in  his  hand  a  for- 
midable cowskin.  For  the  information  of  my  readers,  I  must 
observe  that  a  cowskin  is  a  large  whip,  made  like  a  riding-whip, 
out  of  the  hide  of  the  hippopotamus,  or  sea-cow,  and  is  pro- 
verbial for  the  severity  of  punishment  it  is  capable  of  inflicting. 
After  the  executioner,  came,  with  slow  and  measured  steps,  the 
poor  little  culprits,  five  boys  and  three  girls,  who,  with  most 
rueful  faces,  ranged  themselves,  rank  and  file,  before  the  old  man. 

I  soon  perceived  that  the  hands  were  turned  up  for  punish- 
ment ;  but  the  natm-e  of  the  offence  I  had  yet  to  learn  ;  nor 
did  I  know  whether  any  order  had  been  given  to  strip.     With 


358  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR,  • 

the  boys,  this  would  have  beeu  supererogatory,  as  they  were 
quite  naked.  The  female  children  had  on  cotton  chemises, 
which  they  slowly  and  reluctantly  rolled  up,  until  they  gathered 
them  close  under  their  arm-pits. 

The  old  man  then  ordered  the  eldest  boy  to  begin  his  Pater 
Noster;  and  simultaneously  the  whipper-in  elevated  his  cowskia 
by  way  of  encouragement.  The  poor  boy  watched  it,  out  of 
his  eye,  and  then  began,  "Pattery  nobstur,  qui,  qui,  qui — (here 
he  received  a  most  severe  lash  from  the  cowskin-bearer) — is  in 
silly,"  roared  the  boy,  as  if  the  continuation  had  been  expelled 
from  his  mouth  by  the  application  of  external  force  in  an  oi3po- 
site  dh'ection — "  sancty  fisheter  nom  turn,  adveny  regnum  tum, 
fi  notun  tas,  ta,  ti,  tu,  terror,"  roared  the  poor  fellow,  as  he  saw 
the  lash  descending  on  his  defenceless  back. 

"  Terror,  indeed,"  thought  I. 

"  Panuum  nossum  quotditty  liamminum  da  nobs  holy  day,  e 
missy  nobs  debitty  nossa  si  cut  nos  demittimissibus  debetenibus 
uosimas  e,  ne,  nos  hemduckman,  in,  in,  in  temptationemum,  sed 

lillibery  nos  a  ma — mal ."     Here  a  heavy  lash  brought  the 

very  Oh  !  that  was  "  caret "  to  complete  the  sentence. 

My  readers  are  not  to  suppose  that  the  rest  of  the  class 
acquitted  themselves  with  as  much  ability  as  their  leader,  who, 
compared  to  them,  was  perfectly  erudite;  the  others  received 
a  lash  for  every  word,  or  nearly  so.  The  boys  were  first  dis- 
posed of,  in  order,  I  suppose,  that  they  might  have  the  full 
benefit  of  the  applicant's  muscles  ;  while  the  poor  girls  had  the 
additional  pleasure  of  witnessing  the  castigation  until  their  turn 
came  ;  and  that  they  were  aware  of  what  awaited  them  was 
evident,  from  their  previous  arrangement  and  disposition  of 
dress,  at  the  commencement  of  the  entertainment.  The  girls 
accordingly  came  up  one  after  another  to  say  their  Ave  Maria, 
as  more  consonant  to  their  sex  ;  but  I  could  scarcely  contain 
my  rage  when  the  rascally  cowskin  was  applied  to  them,  or  my 
laughter  when,  smarting  under  its  lash,  they  exclaimed,  "Beu- 
dicta  Mulieribus,"  applying  their  little  hands  with  immoderate 
pressure  to  the  afflicted  part. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  359 

I  could  have  found  it  iu  my  heart  to  have  wrested  the  whip 
out  of  the  hands  of  the  young  negro,  and  applied  it  with  all  my 
might  to  him,  and  his  old  villain  of  a  master,  and  father  of 
these  poor  children,  as  I  soon  found  he  was.  My  patience  was 
almost  gone  when  the  second  girl  received  a  lash  for  her 
"  Plena  Gratia."  She  screamed,  and  danced,  and  lifted  up  her 
poor  legs  in  agony,  rubbing  herself  on  her  "  west "  side,  as  the 
Philadelphia  ladies  called  it,  with  as  much  assiduity  as  if  it  had 
been  one  of  those  cases  in  which  friction  was  prescribed  by  the 
faculty. 

But  the  climax  was  yet  to  come.  A  grand  stage  effect  w-as 
to  be  produced  before  the  falling  of  the  curtain.  The  youngest 
girl  was  so  defective  iu  her  lesson,  that  not  one  word  of  it 
could  be  extracted  from  her,  even  by  the  cowskin  ;  nothing  but 
piercing  shrieks,  enough  to  make  my  heart  bleed,  could  the 
poor  victim  utter.  Irritated  at  the  child's  want  of  capacity  to 
repeat  by  rote  what  she  could  not  understand,  the  old  man 
darted  from  his  seat,  and  struck  her  senseless  to  the  ground. 

I  could  bear  no  more.  My  first  impulse  was  to  wrest  the 
cowskin  from  the  negro's  hand,  and  revenge  the  poor  bleeding 
child  as  she  lay  motionless  on  the  ground  ;  but  a  momeut's 
reflection  convinced  me  that  such  a  step  would  only  have 
brought  down  a  double  weight  of  punishment  on  the  victims 
when  I  was  gone  ;  so,  catching  up  my  hat,  I  turned  away  with 
disgust,  and  walked  slowly  towards  the  town  and  bay  of  Port 
Praya,  reflecting  as  I  went  along  what  pleasant  ideas  the  poor 
creatures  must  entertain  of  religion,  when  the  name  of  God  and 
of  the  cowskin  were  invariably  associated  in  their  minds.  I 
began  to  parody  one  of  Watts's  hymns — 

"  Lord,  how  delightful  'tis  to  see 
A  whole  assembly  worship  thee." 

The  indignation  I  felt  at  this  barbarous  and  ignorant  negro, 
was  not  unmingled  with  some  painful  recollections  of  my  own 
younger  days,  when,  iu  a  Christian  and  Protestant  country,  the 
Bible  and  prayer-book  had  been  made  objects  of  terror  to  my 


360  FRANK    MILDMAY   ;    OR, 

mind  ;  tasks,  greater  than  my  capacity  could  compass,  and 
floggings  in  proportion,  were  not  calculated  to  forward  the 
cause  of  religious  instruction  in  the  mind  of  an  obstinate  boy. 

Reaching  the  water-side,  I  embarked  on  board  of  my  slaver; 
and  the  next  day  sailed  for  England.  We  had  a  favourable 
passage  until  we  reached  the  chops  of  the  channel,  when  a  gale 
of  wind  from  the  north-east  caught  us,  and  drove  us  down  so 
far  to  the  southward  that  the  prize-master  found  himself  under 
the  necessity  of  putting  into  Bordeaux  to  refit,  and  to 
replenish  his  water. 

I  was  not  sorry  for  this,  as  I  was  tired  of  the  company  of 
this  oflScer,  who  was  both  illiterate  and  ill-natured,  neither  a 
sailor  nor  a  gentleman.  Like  many  others  in  the  service,  who 
are  most  loud  in  their  complaints  for  want  of  promotion,  I  con- 
sidered that  even  in  his  present  rank  he  was  what  we  called  a 
king^s  hard  bargain — that  is,  not  worth  his  salt;  and  promoting 
men  of  his  stamp  would  only  have  been  picking  the  pocket  of 
the  country.  As  soon,  therefore,  as  we  had  anchored  in  the 
Gironde,  or  the  city  of  Bordeaux,  and  had  been  visited  by  the 
proper  authorities,  I  quitted  the  vessel  and  her  captain,  and 
went  on  shore. 

Taking  up  my  abode  at  the  Hotel  d'Angleterre,  ray  first  care 
was  to  order  a  good  dinner;  and  having  despatched  that,  and  a 
bottle  of  Yin  de  Beaune,  (which,  by-the-by,  I  strongly  recom- 
mend to  all  travellers,  if  they  can  get  it,  for  I  am  no  bad  judge,) 
I  asked  ray  vald  de  place  how  I  was  to  dispose  of  rayself  for  the 
remainder  of  the  evening. 

"  Mais,  monsieur"  said  he,  "  il  faul  allcr  au  spectacle." 

"  Allans,"  said  I,  and  in  a  few  minutes  I  was  seated  in  the 
stage-box  of  the  handsomest  theatre  in  the  world. 

What  strange  events — what  unexpected  meetings  and  sudden 
separations  are  sailors  liable  to — what  sudden  transitions  from 
grief  to  joy,  and  from  joy  to  grief,  from  want  to  affluence,  from 
affluence  to  want  I  All  this  the  history  of  ray  life,  for  the  last 
six  months,  will  fully  illustrate. 


THE    NAVAL   OFFICER.  361 


• CHArTER  XXVI 

You  will  proceed  in  pleasure  and  in  pride, 

Beloved,  and  loving  many  ;  all  is  o'er 
For  me  on  earth,  except  some  years  to  hide 

My  shame  and  sorrow  deep  in  my  heart's  core. 

Don  Joan. 

I  PAID  little  attention  to  the  perfonnunec;  for  the  moment  I 
came  to  the  house,  my  eyes  were  riveted  on  an  object  from 
which  I  found  it  impossible  to  remove  them.  "  It  i.s,"  said  I, 
"  and  yet  it  cannot  be;  and  yet  why  should  it  not  ?"  A  young 
lady  sat  in  one  of  the  boxes;  she  was  elegantly  attired,  and 
seemed  to  occupy  the  united  attentions  of  many  Frenchmen, 
who  eagerly  caught  her  smiles. 

"  Either  that  is  Eugenia,"  thought  I,  "  or  I  have  fallen 
asleep  in  the  ruins  of  St.  Jago,  and  am  dreaming  of  her.  That 
is  Eugenia,  or  I  am  not  Frank.  It  is  her,  or  it  is  her  ghost." 
Still  I  had  not  that  moral  certainty  of  the  identity,  as  to  en- 
able me  to  go  at  once  to  her  and  address  her.  Indeed,  had  I 
been  certain,  all  things  considered,  the  situation  we  were  in 
would  have  rendered  such  a  step  highly  improper. 

"  If  that  be  Eugenia,"  thought  I,  again,  "  she  has  improved 
both  in  manner  and  person.  She  has  a  becoming  embonpoint, 
and  an  aiv  de  bonne  societe,  which,  when  we  parted,  she  had  not." 

The  more  intensely  I  gazed,  the  more  convinced  was  I  that 
I  was  right;  the  immoveable  devotion  of  my  eyes  attracted  the 
attention  of  a  French  officer,  who  sat  near  me. 

"  C'esi  une  jolie  femnie,  n'esf-ce  pns,  monsieur  ?" 

"  Vraiment"  said  I.     "  Do  you  know  her  name  ?" 

"  EUe  s^appelle  Madame  de  Rosenberg" 

"  Then  I  am  wrong  after  all,"  said  I  to  myself.  "  Has  she  a 
husband,  sir  ?" 

"  Pardonnez-moi,  elle  est.  veuve,  mais  elk  a  un  petit  gargon  de 
dnq  ans,  heu.v,  comme  un  ange." 

"  That  is  her,"  said  I  again,  reviving.  "  Is  she  a  French- 
woman ?" 

16 


362  *  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  Pas  dii  toiU,  monsieur,  die  est  imc  de  vos  compatriotes  ;  c^est 
une  fort  jolie  exemjplaireP 

She  had  only  been  three  months  at  Bordeaux,  and  had 
refused  man/ very  good  oifers  in  marriage.  Such  was  the  infor- 
mation I  obtained  from  my  obliging  neighbour;  and  I  was  now 
convinced  that  Madame  de  Rosenberg  could  be  no  other  than 
Eugenia.  Every  endeavour  to  catch  her  eye  proved  abortive. 
My  only  hope  was  to  follow  the  carriage. 

When  the  play  was  over,  I  waited  with  an  impatience  like 
that  of  a  spirited  hunter  who  hears  the  hounds.  At  last  the 
infernal  squalling  of  the  vocalists  ceased,  but  not  before  I  had 
devoutly  wished  that  all  the  wax  candles  in  the  house  were 
down  their  throats  and  burning  there.  I  saw  one  of  the  gen- 
tlemen in  the  box  placing  the  shawl  over  her  shoulders,  with 
the  most  careful  attention,  while  the  bystanders  seemed  ready 
to  tear  him  in  pieces  from  envy.  I  hurried  to  the  door,  and 
saw  her  handed  into  her  carriage,  which  drove  off  at  a  great 
pace.  I  ran  after  it,  jumped  up  behind,  and  took  my  station  by 
the  side  of  the  footman. 

"  Descendez  done,  monsieur,"  said  the  man, 

"  I'll  be  d d  if  I  do,"  said  I. 

"  Comment  done  ?"  said  the  man. 

"  Tais-toi,  bete,"  said  I,  "  ou  je  te  briilerai  la  cervelle." 

"  Vous  f e,"  said  the  man,  who  behaved  very  well,  and 

instantly  began  to  remove  me,  vi  et  armis ;  but  I  planted  a 
stomacher  in  his  fifth  button,  which  I  knew  would  put  him  hors 
de  combat  for  a  few  minutes,  and  by  that  time,  at  the  rate  the 
carriage  was  driving,  my  purpose  would  have  been  answered. 
The  fellow  lost  his  breath — could  not  hold  on  or  speak — so  he 
tumbled  off,  and  lay  in  the  middle  of  the  road. 

As  he  fell  on  dry  ground,  and  was  not  an  English  sailor,  I 
did  not  jump  after  him,  but  left  him  to  his  own  ease,  and  we 
saw  no  more  of  him,  for  we  were  going  ten  knots,  while  he  lay 
becalmed  without  a  breath  of  wind.  This  was  one  of -the  most 
successful  acts  of  usurpation  recorded  in  modern  history.  It 
has  its  parallels,  I  know;  but  I  cannot  now  stop  to  comment  on 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFICER.  363 

them,  or  on  ray  own  folly  and  {irccipitation.  I  was  as  firmly 
fixed  behind  the  carriage,  as  Bonaparte  was  on  the  tlirone  of 
France  after  the  battle  of  Eylau. 

We  stopped  at  a  large  furte  cochere,  being  the  entrance  to  a 
very  grand  house,  with  lamps  at  the  door,  within  a  spacious 
court-yard;  we  drove  in  and  drew  up.  I  was  dowu  in  a  mo- 
ment, opened  the  carriage  door,  and  let  down  the  steps..  The 
lady  descended,  laid  her  hand  on  my  arm  without  perceiving 
that  she  had  changed  her  footman,  and  tripped  lightly  up  the 
stairs.  I  followed  her  into  a  handsome  saloon,  where  another 
servant  in  livery  had  placed  lights  on  the  table.  She»turned 
round,  saw  me,  and  fainted  in  my  arms. 

It  was,  indeed,  Eugenia  herself,  and  with  all  due  respect  to 
my  dear  Emily,  I  borrowed  a  thousand  kisses  while  she  lay  in  a 
state  of  torpor,  in  a  fauteuil  to  which  I  carried  her.  It  was 
some  few  minutes  before  she  opened  her  eyes;  the  man-servant 
wiio  had  lol'ought  the  lights  very  })roperly  never  quitted  the 
room,  but  was  perfectly  respectful  in  his  manner,  rightly  con- 
ceiving that  I  had  some  authority  for  my  proceedings. 

"  My  dearest  Frank,"  said  Eugenia,  "  what  an  unexpected 
meeting  I  What,  in  the  name  of  fortune,  could  have  brought 
you  here  ?" 

"  That,"  said  I,  "is  a  story  too  long,  Eugenia,  for  a  moment 
so  interesting  as  this.  I  also  might  ask  you  the  same  question; 
but  it  is  now  one  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and,  therefore,  too 
late  to  Juegin  w'ith  inquiry.  This  one  question,  however,  I  must 
ask — are  you  a  mother  ?" 

"  I  am,"  said  Eugenia,  "  of  the  most  lovely  boy  that  ever 
blessed  the  eyes  of  a  parent ;  he  is  now  in  perfect  health  and 
fast  asleep — come  to-morrow,  at  ten  o'clock,  and  you  shall  see 
him." 

" To-morroAv,"  said  I,  with  surprise  ;  "to-morrow,  Eugenia? 
why  am  I  to  quit  your  house  ?" 

"  That  also  yoa  shall  know"  to-morrow,"  said  she  ;  "  but  now 
you  must  do  as  you  are  desired.  To-morrow,  I  will  be  at  home 
to  no  one  but  you." 


864  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

Knowing  Eugenia,  as  I  did,  it  was  sufficient  that  she  had 
decided.  There  was  no  appeal  ;  so,  kissing  her  again,  I  wished 
her  a  good  night,  quitted  her,  and  retired  to  my  hotel.  What 
a  night  of  tumult  did  I  pass  I  I  was  tossed  from  Emily  to 
Eugenia,  like  a  shuttlecock  between  two  battledores.  The 
latter  never  looked  so  lovely  ;  and  to  the  natural  loveliness  of 
her  person,  was  added  a  grace  and  a  polish,  which  gave  a 
lustre  to  her  charms,  which  almost  served  Emily  as  I  had  served 
the  footman.  I  never  once  closed  my  eyes  during  the  night — 
dressed  early  the  next  morning,  walked  about,  looked  at  Cha- 
teau Tr«mpette  and  the  Eoman  ruins — thought  the  hour  of  ten 
would  never  strike,  and  when  it  did,  I  struck  the  same  moment 
at  her  door. 

The  man  who  opened  it  to  me  was  the  same  whoui  I  had 
treated  so  ill  the  night  before  ;  the  moment  he  saw  me,  he  put 
himself  into  an  attitude  at  once  of  attack,  defence,  remon- 
strance, and  revenge,  all  connected  with  the  affair  of  the  pre- 
ceding evening. 

"  Ah,  ah,  vous  voila  done !  ce  n'eioit  pas  bien  fait,  monsieur." 

"  Oui,"  said  I,  "  tves  nettement  fait,  et  voila  encore,"  slipping  a 
Napoleon  into  his  hand." 

"  Qa  s'arrange  tres-jolimcnt,  monsieur,"  said  the  man,  grinning 
from  ear  to  car,  and  bowing  to  the  ground.  "  C'est  madame, 
que  voibs  voulez  done  ?" 

"  Oui,"  said  I. 

He  led,  I  followed  ;  he  opened  the  door  of  a  breakfast 
parlour — "  Tenez,  madame,  void  le  monsieur  qui  m'a  renverse  hier 
au  soir" 

Eugenia  was  seated  on  a  sofa,  with  her  boy  by  her  side, 
the  loveliest,  little  fellow  1  had  ever  beheld.  His  face  was 
one  often  described,  but  rarely  seen  ;  it  was  shaded  with 
dark  curling  ringlets,  his  mouth,  eyes,  and  complexion  had 
much  of  his  mother,  and,  vanity  whispered  me,  much  more  of 
myself.  1  took  a  seat  on  the  softi,  and  with. the  boy  on  my 
knee,  and  Eugenia  by  my  side,  held  her  hand,  while  she  narrated 
the  events  of  her  life  since  the  time  of  our  separation. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFFCER.  005 

"  A  few  days,"  said  she,  "  after  your  departure  for  the 
Flushing  expedition,  I  read  in  the  public  prints,  that  '  if  the 

nearest  relation  of  my  ninther  would  call   at ,  in  London, 

they  would  hear  of  something  to  their  advantage.'  I  wrote  to 
the  agent,  from  whom  I  learned,  after  proving  my  identity,  that 
the  two  sisters  of  my  mother,  who,  you  may  remember,  had 
like  sums  left  them  by  the  will  of  their  relative,  had  contiuued 
to  live  in  a  state  of  single  blessedness  ;  that,  about  four  years 
previous  one  of  them  had  died,  leaving  every  thing  to  the  other, 
and  that  the  other  had  died  only  two  months  before,  bequeath- 
ing all  her  property  to  my  mother,  or  her  next  heir  ;  or,  in 
default  of  that,  to  some  distant  relation.  I,  therefore,  imme- 
diately, came  into  a  fortune  of  ten  thousand  pounds,  with  inter- 
est ;  and  I  was  further  informed  that  a  great-uncle  of  mine  was 
still  living,  without  heirs,  and  was  most  anxious  that  my  mother 
or  her  heirs  should  be  discovered.  An  invitation  was  thei;^'fore 
sent  to  me  to  go  down  to  him,  and  make  his  house  my  future 
I'esidence. 

"  At  that  time,  the  effects  of  my  indiscretion  were  but  too 
apparent,  and  rendered  as  I  thought,  deception  justifiable.  I 
put  on  widow's  weeds,  and  gave  out  that  my  husband  was  a 
young  officer,  who  had  fallen  a  victim  to  the  fatal  Walcheren 
fever  ;  that  our  marriage  had  been  clandestine,  and  unknown 
to  any  of  his  friends  :  such  was  my  story  and  appearance  before 
the  agent,  Avho  believed  me.  The  same  fabrication  was  put 
upon  my  grand-uncle,  with  equal  success.  I  was  received  into 
his  house  with  parental  affection  ;  and  in  that  house  I  gave 
birth  to  the  dear  child  you  now  hold  in  your  arms — to  your 
child,  my  Frank — to  the  only  child  I  shall  ever  have.  Yes, 
dear  Eugenio,"  continued  she,  pressing  her  rosy  lips  on  the  broad 
white  neck  of  the  child,  "you  shall  be  my  only  care,  my  solace, 
my  comfort,  and  joy.  Heaven,  in  its  mercy,  sent  the  cherub  to 
console  its  wretched  mother  in  the  double  pangs  of  guilt  aud 
separation  from  all  she  loved  ;  and  Heaven  shall  be  repaid,  by 
my  return  to  its  slighted,  its  insulted  laws.  I  feel  that  my  siu 
is  forgiven  ;  for  I  have   besought  forgiveness  night  and  day, 


366  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

with  bitter  tears,  and  Heaven  has  heard  my  prayer.  '  Go,  and 
sin  no  more,'  was  said  to  me  ;  and  upon  these  terms  I  have 
received  forgiveness. 

"  You  will  no  doubt  ask,  why  did  I  not  let  you  know  all  this  ? 
and  why  I  so  carefully  secreted  myself  from  you  ?  My  reasons 
were  founded  on  the  known  impetuosity  of  your  character. 
You,  my  beloved,  who  could  brave  death,  and  all  the  military 
consequences  of  desertion  from  a  ship  lying  at  Spithead,  were 
not  likely  to  listen  to  the  suggestions  of  prudence  when  Eugenia 
was  to  be  found  ;  and,  having  once  given  out  that  I  W'as  a 
widow,  I  resolved  to  preserve  the  consistency  of  my  character 
for  my  own  sake,  for  your  sake,  and  for  the  sake  of  this  blessed 
child,  the  only  drop  that  has  sweetened  the  cup  of  affliction. 
Had  you  by  any  means  discovered  my  place  of  abode,  the  peace 
of  my  uncle's  house,  and  the  prospects  of  my  child,  had  been 
for  gver  blasted. 

"  Now  then  say,  Frank,  have  I,  or  have  I  not,  acted  the  part 
of  a  Roman  mother  ?  My  grand-uncle  having  declared  his 
intention  of  making  me  heir  to  his  property,  for  his  sake,  and 
yours,  and  for  my  child,  I  have  preserved  the  strict  line  of  duty, 
from  which  God,  in  his  infinite  mercy,  grant  that  I  may  never 
depart. 

"  I  first  resolved  upon  not  seeing  you  until  I  could  be  more 
my  own  mistress  ;  and  when,  at  the  death  of  my  respected 
relative,  1  was  not  only  released  from  any  restraint  on  account 
of  his  feelings,  but  also  became  still  more  independent  in  my 
circumstances,  you  might  be  surprised  that  I  did  not  imme- 
diately impart  to  you  the  change  of  fortune  which  would  have 
enabled  us  to  have  enjoyed  the  comfort  of  unrestricted  communi- 
cation. But  time,  reflection,  tlie  conversation  aaid  society  of 
my  uncle  and  his  select  friends,  the  care  of  my  infant,  aud  the 
reading  of  many  excellent  books,  had  wrought  a  great  change 
in  my  sentiments.  Having  once  tasted  the  pleasures  of  society 
among  virtuous  women,  I  vowed  to  Heaven  that  no  future  act 
of  mine  should  ever  drive  me  from  it.  The  past  could  not  be 
recalled  ;  but  tlie  future  was  my  own. 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFICER.  86t 

"I  took  the  sacrament  after  a  long  and  serious  course  of 
reading;  and,  having  made  nay  vows  at  the  altar,  with  the  help 
of  God,  they  are  unchangeable.  Dramatic  works,  the  pernicious 
study  and  poison  of  my  youthful,  ardent  mind,  I  have  long  since 
discarded  ;  and  I  had  resolved  never  to  see  you  again,  until 
after  your  marriage  with  Miss  Somerville  had  been  solemnized. 
Start  not  I  By  the  simplest  and  easiest  means  I  have  knowu 
all  your  movements — your  dangers,  your  escapes,  your  un- 
daunted acts  of  bravery  and  self-devotion  for  the  sake  of 
others. 

"  *  Shall  I,  then,'  said  I  to  myself,  '  blast  the  prospects  of  the 
man  I  love — the  father  of  my  boy  ?  Shall  I,  to  gratify  the 
poor,  pitiful  ambition  of  becoming  the  wife  of  him,  to  whom  I 
once  was  the  mistress,  sacrifice  thus  the  hopes  and  fortune  of 
himself  and  family,  the  reward  of  a  vu-tuous  maiden  V  In  all 
this  I  hope  you  will  perceive  a  proper  share  of  self-denial. 
Many,  many  floods  of  bitter  tears  of  rei)entance  and  regret 
have  1  shed  over  my  past  conduct,  and  I  trust  that  what  I  ha^^e 
suffered  and  what  I  shall  suffer,  will  be  received  as  my  atone- 
ment at  the  throne  of  grace.  True,  I  once  looked  forward  to 
the  hajjpy  period  of  our  union,  when  I  miglit  have  offered 
myself  to  you,  not  as  a  portionless  bride;  but  I  was  checked  by 
one  maddening,  burning,  inextinguishing  thought.  I  could  not 
be  received  into  that  society  to  which  you  were  entitled.  I  felt 
that  I  loved  you,  Frank  ;  loved  you  too  well  to  betray  you. 
The  woman  that  had  so  little  respect  for  herself,  was  unfit  to 
be  the  wife  of  Francis  Mildmay. 

"  Besides,  how  could  I  do  my  sweet  boy  the  injustice  to 
allow  him  to  have  brothers  and  sisters  possessing  legitimate 
advantages  over  him  ?  I  felt  that  our  union  never  could  be  one 
of  happiness,  even  if  yon  consented  to  take  me  as  your  ^vife,  of 
which  I  had  my  doubts  :  and  when  I  discovered,  through  my 
emissaries,  that  you  were  on  the  point  of  marriage  witli  Miss 
Somerville,  1  felt  that  it  was  all  for  the  best  ;  tliat  I  had  no 
right  to  complain;  the  more  so  as  it  was  I  wlio  (1  blush  to  say 
it)  had  seduced  you. 


368  FRANK    MILPMAY  ;    OR, 

"But,  Fraub,  if  I  cannot  bq  jour  wife — and  alas  1  I  know 
too  well  that  that  is  impossible — will  you  allow  me  to  be  your 
Irieud,  your  dear  friend,  as  the  mother  of  your  child,  or,  if  you 
please,  as  your  sister  ?  But  there  the  sacred  hne  is  drawn  ;  it 
is  a  compact  between  my  God  and  myself.  You  know  my 
firmness  and  decision  ;  once  maturely  deliberated,  my  resolu- 
tion formed,  it  is  not,  I  think,  in  man  to  turn  me.  Do  not, 
therefore,  make  the  attempt :  it  will  only  end  in  your  cer- 
tain defeat  and  shame,  and  in  my  withdrawing  from  your  sight 
for  ever.  You  will  not,  I  am  sure,  pay  me  so  bad  a  compli- 
ment as  to  wish  me  to  renew  the  follies  of  my  youth.  If  you 
love  me,  respect  me  ;  promise,  by  the  love  you  bear  to  Miss 
Somerville,  and  your  affection 'for  this  poor  boy,  that  you  will 
do  as  I  wish  you.  Your  honour  and  peace  of  mind,  as  well  as 
mine,  demand  it." 

This  severe  rebuke  from  a  quarter  whence  I  least  expected  it, 
threw  me  back,  with  shame  and  confusion.  As  if  a  mirror  had 
been  held  up  to  me,  I  saw  my  own  deformity.  I  saw  that 
Eugenia  was  not  only  the  guardian  of  her  own  honour,  but  of 
mine,  and  of  the  happiness  of  Miss  Somerville,  against  whom  I 
now  stood  convicted  of  foul  deceit  and  shameful  wrong.  I 
acknowledged  my  fault,  I  assured  Eugenia  that  I  was  bound  to 
her,  by  every  tie  of  honour,  esteem,  and  love,  that  her  boy  and 
mine  should  be  our  mutual  care. 

"  Thank  you,  dearest,"  said  she  ;  "  you  have  taken  a  heavy 
load  from  my  mind  :  henceforth,  remember  we  are  brother  and 
sister.  I  sliall  now  Be  able  to  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  your 
society  ;  and  now,  as  that  point  is  settled,  let  me  know  what 
has  occurred  to  you  since  we  parted — the  particulars  I  mean, 
for  the  outline  I  have  had  before." 

I  related  to  her  every  thing  which  had  happened  to  me,  from 
the  hour  of  our  separation  to  the  moment  I  saw  her  so  unex- 
pectedly in  the  theatre.  She  was  alternately  affected  with  ter- 
ror, surprise  and  laughter.  She  took  a  hearty  crying  spell 
over  the  motionless  bodies  of  Clara  and  Emily,  as  they  lay  ou 
the  floor  ;  but  recovered  from  that,  and  went  into  hysterics  of 


THE    N'AVAI,    OFFICKR.  369 

laughter,  when  I  described  the  footman's  mistake,  and  the  slap 
on  the  face  bestowed  on  him  by  the  liousemaid. 

My  mind  was  not  naturally  corrupt.  It  was  only  so  at 
times,  and  from  peculiar  circumstances;  but  I  was  always  gene- 
rous, and  easily  recalled  to  a  sense  of  my  duty,  when  reminded 
of  my  fault.  Not  for  an  empire  would  I  have  persuaded  Euge- 
nia to  break  her  vow.  I  loved  and  respected  the  mother  of  my 
child  ;  the  more  when  I  reflected  that  she  had  been  the  means 
of  preserving  my  fidelity  to  Emily.  I  rejoiced  to  think  that  my 
friendship  for  the  one,  and  love  for  the  other,  were  not  incom- 
patible. I  wrote  immediately  to  Emily,  announcing  my  speedy 
return  to  England. 

"  Having  the  most  perfect  reliance  on  your  honour,  I  shall 
now,"  said  Eugenia,  "  accept  of  your  escort  to  Loudon,  where 
my  presence  is  required.  Pierre  shall  accompany  us — he  is  a 
faithful  creature,  though  you  used  him  so- ill." 

"That,"  said  I,  "is  all  made  up,  and  Pierre  would  be 
heartily  glad  of  another  tumble  for  the  same  price." 

All  our  arrangements  were  speedily  made.  The  house  was 
given  uj} — a  roomy  travelling  barouche  received  all  our  trunks: 
and,  seated  by  the  side  of  Eugenia,  with  the  child  between  us, 
we  crossed  the  Gironde,  and  took  our  way  through  Poictiers, 
Tours,  and  Orleans,  to  Paris  ;  here  we  remained  but  a  short 
time.  Neither  of  us  was  pleased  with  the  manners  and  habits 
of  the  French  ;.but  as  they  have  been  so  fully  described  by  the 
swarms  of  English  travellers  who  have  infested  that  country 
with  then*  presence,  and  this  with  the  fruits  of  theu'  labours, 
I  shall  pass  as  quietly  through  France  as  I  hope  to  do 
through  the  Thames  Tunnel,  when  it  is  completed,  but  not 
before. 

Eugenia  consulted  me  as  to  her  future  residence  ;  and  here  I 
own  I  committed  a  great  error,  but  I  declare  to  Heaven  with- 
out any  criminal   intention.     I  ventured  to  suggest  that  she 

should  live  in  a  very  pretty  village  a  few  miles  from Hall, 

the  residence  of  Mr.  Sonierville,  and  where,  after  my  nuirriage, 
it  was  intended  that  1  should  continue  to  reside  with  Emily. 

16* 


370  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

To  this  village,  then,  I  directed  her  to  go,  assuring  her  that  I 
should  often  ride  over  and  visit  her. 

"  Much  as  I  should  enjoy  your  company,  Frank,"  said  Euge- 
nia, "  this  is  a  measure  fraught  with  evil  to  all  parties  ;  nor 
is  it  fair  dealing  towards  your  futui'e  wife." 

Unhappily  for  me,  that  turn  for  duplicity,  which  I  had 
imbibed  in  early  life,  had  not  forsaken  me,  notwithstanding  the 
warnings  I  had  received,  and  the  promises  of  amendment  which 
I  had  made.  Flattering  myself  that  I  intended  no  harm,  I 
overruled  all  the  scruples  of  the  excellent  Eugenia.  She  de- 
spatched a  confidential  person  to  the  village,  on  the  outskirts 
of  which  he  procured  for  her  a  commodious  and  even  elegant 
cottage  ornce,  ready  furnished.  She  went  down  with  her  child 
and  Pierre  to  take  possession ;  and  I  to  my  father's  house,  where 
my  appearance  was  hailed  as  a  signal  for  a  grand  jubilee. 

Clara  I. found  had  entirely  changed  her  unfavourable  opinion 
of  sea  officers,  induced  thereto  by  the  engaging  manners  of  my 
friend  Talbot,  on  whom  I  was  delighted  to  learn  she  was  about 
to  bestow  her  very  pretty  little  white  hand  at  the  altar.  This 
was  a  great  triumph  to  the  navy,  for  I  always  told  Clara, 
laughingly,  that  I  never  would  forgive  her  if  she  quitted  the 
service  :  and  as  I  entertained  the  highest  respect  for  Talbot,  I 
considered  the  prospects  of  my  sister  as  very  bright  and  flat- 
tering, and  that  she  had  made  a  choice  very  likely  to  secure  her 
happiness.    "  Rule  Britannia,"  said  I  to  Clara  ;  ".Blue  for  ever  I" 

The  next  morning  I  started  for  Mr.  Somerville's,  where  I  was 
of  course  received  with  open  arms  ;  and  the  party,  a  few  days 
after,  having  been  increased  by  Ihe  arrival  of  my  father,  with 
Clara  and  Talbot,  I  was  as  happy  as  a  human  being  could  be. 
Six  weeks  was  the  pisriod  assigned  by  my  fair  one  as  the  very 
shortest  in  which  she  could  get  rigged,  bend  new  sails,  and  pre- 
pare for  the  long  and  sometimes  tedious  voyage  of  matrimony. 
I  remonstrated  at  the  unconscionable  delay. 

"  Long  as  it  may  appear,"  she  said,  it  is  much  less  time  than 
you  took  to  fit  out  your  fine  new  frigate  for  North  America." 

"  That  fi'igate  was  not  got  ready  even  then  by  any  hurry  of 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  371 

mine,"  said  I ;  "and  if  eyer  I  come  to  be  first  lord  of  the  admi 
ralty,  I  sliall  liave  a  bright  eye  on  the  young  lieutenants  and 
their  sweethearts  at  Blackheath,  particularly  when  a  ship  is 
fitting  in  a  hui'ry  at  Woolwich." 

Much  of  this  kind  of  sparring  went  on,  to  the  great  amuse- 
ment of  all  parties  ;  meanwhile,  the  ladies  employed  themselves 
in  running  up  milliner's  bills,  and  their  papas  employed  them- 
selves in  discharging  them.  My  father  was  particularly  liberal 
to  Emily  in  the  articles  of  plate  and  jewelry,  and  Mr.  Somer- 
ville  equally  kind  to  Clara.  Emily  received  a  trinket  box,  so 
beautifully  fitted  and  so  well  filled,  that  it  required  a  cheque 
of  no  trifling  magnitude  to  cry  quits  with  the  jeweller  ;  indeed 
my  father's  kiudness.was  so  great,  that  I  was  forced  to  beg  he 
would  set  some  bounds  to  his  liberality. 

I  was  so  busy  and  so  happy,  that  I  had  let  three  weeks  pass 
over  my  head  without  seeing  Eugenia.  I  dreamed  of  her  at 
last,  and  thought  she  upbraided  me  ;  and  the  next  day,  full  of 
my  dream,  as  soon  as  breakfast  was  over,  I  recommended  the 
young  ladies  to  the  care  of  Talbot,  and  mounting  my  horse, 
rode  over  to  see  Eugenia.  She  received  me  kindly,  but  she 
had  suffered  in  her  health,  and  was  much  out  of  spirits.  I 
inquired  the  reason,  and  she  burst  into  tears.  "  I  shall  be  bet- 
ter, Frank,"  said  she,  "  when  all  is  over,  but  I  must  suffer  now; 
and  I  suffer  the  more  acutely  from  a  conviction  that  I  am  only 
paying  the  penalty  of  my  own  crime.  Perhaps,"  continued  she, 
"  had  I  never  departed  from  virtue,  I  might  at  this  moment 
have  held  in  your  heart  the  envied  place  of  Miss  Somerville  ; 
l)ut  as  the  righteous  decrees  of  Providence  have  provided  pun- 
ishment to  tread  fast  in  the  footsteps  of  guilt,  I  am  now  expi- 
ating my  faults,  and  I  have  a  presentiment  that,  although  the 
struggle  is  bitter,  it  will  soon  be  over.  God's  will  be  done  ; 
and  may  you,  my  dear  Frank,  have  many,  many  happy  years 
in  the  society  of  one  you  are  bound  to  love  before  the  unhappy 
Eugenia." 

Here  she  sunk  on  a  sofa,  and  again  wept  bitterly. 

"  I  feel,"  said  she,  "  now,  that  it  is  too  late — I  feel  that  I 


372  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

have  acted  wrongly  in  quitting  Bordeaux.  There  I  was  loved 
and  respected  ;  and  if  not  happy,  at  least  I  was  composed. 
Too  much  dependence  on  my  resolution,  and  the  vanity  of  sup- 
posing myself  superior  in  magnanimity  to  the  rest  of  my  sex, 
induced  me  to  trust  myself  in  your  society.  Dearly,  alas  I  have 
I  paid  for  it.  My  only  chance  of  victory  over  myself  was  flight 
from  you,  after  I  had  given  the  irrevocable  sentence  ;  by  not 
doing  so,  the  poison  has  again  found  its  way  to  my  heart.  I 
feel  that  I  love  you  ;  that  I  cannot  have  you  ;  and  that  death 
very  shortly  must  terminate  my  intolerable  sufferings." 

This  affecting  address  pierced  me  to  the  soul  ;  and  now  the 
consequences  of  my  guilt  and  duplicity  rushed  upon  me  like  a 
torrent  through  a  bursting  flood-gate.  I  would  have  resigned 
Emily,  I  would  have  fled  with  Eugenia  to  some  distant  country, 
and  buried  our  sorrows  in  each  other's  bosoms  ;  and,  in  a  state 
of  irrepressible  emotion,  I  proposed  this  step  to  her. 

"What  do  I  hear,  my  beloved  !"  said  she  (starting  up  with 
horror  from  the  couch  on  which  she  was  sitting,  with  her 
face  between  her  knees),  "  what  !  is  it  you  that  would  resign 
home,  friends,  character,  the  possession  of  a  virtuous  woman, 
all,  for  the  polluted  smiles  of  an " 

"  Hold  !  hold  !  my  Eugenia,"  said  I,  "  do  not,  I  beseech  you, 
shock  my  ears  with  an  epithet  which  you  do  not  deserve  ! 
Mine,  mine,  is  all  the  guilt ;  forget  me,  and  you  will  still  be 
happy." 

She  looked  at  me,  then  at  her  sweet  boy,  who  was  playing 
on  the  carpet — but  she  made  no  answer  ;  and  then  a  flood  of 
tears  succeeded. 

It  was,  indeed,  a  case  of  singular  calamity,  for  a  beautiful 
young  creature  to  be  placed  in.  She  was  only  in  her  three-and 
twentieth  year — and,  lovely  as  she  was,  nature  liad  scarcely  had 
time  to  finish  the  picture.  The  regrets  which  subdued  my 
mind  on  that  fatal  morning,  may  only  be  conceived  by  those 
who,  like  me,  have  led  a  licentious  life — have,  for  a  time,  buried 
all  moral  and  religious  feeling,  and  have  been  suddenly  called 
to  a  full  sense  of  their  guilt,  and  the  misery  they  have  entailed 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFICKR.  373 

on  the  iimocent.  I  sat  down  and  groaned.  I  cannot  say  I 
wept,  for  I  could  not  weep  ;  but  my  forehead  burned,  and  my 
heart  was  full  of  bitterness. 

While  I  thus  meditated,  Eugenia  sat  with  her  hand  on  her 
forehead,  in  a  musing  attitude.  Had  she  been  reverting  to  her 
former  studies,  and  thrown  herself  into  the  finest  conceivable 
posture  of  the  tragic  muse,  her  appearance  would  not  have  been 
half  so  beautiful  and  affecting.  I  thought  she  was  praying,  and 
1  think  so  still.  The  tears  ran  in  silence  down  her  face  ;  I 
kissed  them  off,  and  almost  forgot  Emily. 

"  I  am  better  now,  Frank,"  said  the  poor,  sorrowfid  woman  ; 
"  do  not  come  again  until  after  the  wedding.  When  will  it 
take  place  ?"  she  inquired,  with  a  trembling  and  faltering  voice. 

My  heart  almost  burst  wiihiu  me,  as  I  told  her,  for  I  felt  as 
if  I  was  signing  a  warrant  for  her  execution.  I  took  her  iu  my 
arms,  and,  tenderly  embracing  her,  endeavoured  to  divert  her 
thoughts  from  the  mournful  fate  that  too  evidently  hung  over 
her  ;  she  became  tranquil,  and  I  proposed  to  take  a  stroll  iu 
the  adjoining  park.     I  thought  the  fresh  air  would  revive  her. 

She  agreed  to  this ;  and  g(^ng  to  her  room,  returned  in  a  few 
miimtes.  To  her  natural  beauty  was  added  on  that  fatal  day  a 
morning  dress  which  more  than  any  other  became  her  ;  it  was 
white,  richly  trimmed,  and  fashionably  made  by  a  celebrated 
French  milliner.  Her  bonnet  was  white  muslin,  trimmed  with 
light  blue  ribbons,  and  a  sash  of  the  same  colour  confined  her 
slender  waist.  The  little  Eugenio  ran  before  us,  now  at  my 
side,  and  now  at  his  mother's.  We  rambled  about  for  some 
time,  the  burden  of  our  conversation  being  the  future  plans  and 
mode  of  education  to  be  adopted  for  the  child  ;  this  was  a  sub- 
ject on  which  she  always  dwelt  with  peculiar  pleasure. 

Tired  with  our  walk,  we  sat  down  under  a  clump  of  beech 
trees,  near  a  grassy  ;iseen(,  winding  anioug  the  thick  foliage, 
contrived  by  the  opulent  owner  to  extend  and  diversify  the  rides 
iu  his  noble  domain.  Eugenio  was  playing  around  us,  picking 
the  wild  flowers,  and  running  up  to  me  to  inquire  their 
names. 


314  '■  FRANK    MILDMAT  ;    OR, 

The  boy  was  close  by  my  side,  wheu,  startled  at  a  noise,  he 
tui'ued  round  and  exclaimed — 

"  Oh  !  look,  mamma,  look,  papa,  there  is  a  lady  and  a  gen- 
tleman riding." 

I  turned  round,  and  saw  Mr.  Somerville  and  Emily  on  horse- 
back, within  six  paces  of  me  ;  so  still  they  stood,  so  mute,  I 
could  have  fancied  Emily  a  wax-work  figure.  They  neither 
breathed  nor  moved  ;  even  their  very  horses  seemed  to  be  of 
bronze,  or,  perhaps  the  unfortunate  situation  in  which  I  found 
myself  made  me  think  them  so.  They  had  come  as  unexpect- 
edly on  us  as  we  had  discovered  them.  The  soft  turf  had 
received  the  impression  of  their  horses'  feet,  and  retm'ned  no 
sound  ;  and  if  they  snorted,  we  had  either  not  attended  to  them 
in  the  warmth  of  our  conversation,  or  we  had  never  heard 
them. 

I  rose  up  hastily — coloured  deeply — stammered,  and  was 
about  to  speak.  Perhaps  it  was  better  that  I  did  not ;  but  I 
had  no  opportunity.  Like  apparitions  they  came,  and  like  appa- 
ritions they  vanished.  The  avenue  from  whence  they  had  so 
silently  issued,  received  them  agailn,  and  they  were  gone  before 
Eugenia  was  sensible  of  their  presence. 


CHAPTER  XXVII. 

Fare  thee  well ;  and  if  for  ever — 

Still  for  ever  fare  thee  well ; 
Even  though  unforgiving,  never 

'Gainst  thee  shall  my  heart  rebel. 

Byron. 

I  WAS  SO  stunned  with  this  contretemps,  that  I  fell  senseless  to 
the  ground  ;  and  it  was  long  before  the  kind  attentions  and 
assiduity  of  Eugenia  could  restore  me.  Wheu  she  had  suc- 
ceeded, my  first  act  was  one  of  base  ingratitude,  cruelty,  and 
injustice  :  I  spurned  her  from  me,  and  upbraided  her  as  the 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  "    375 

cause  of  my  unfortunate  situation.  She  only  replied  with  tears 
I  quitted  her  and  the  child  without  bidding  them  adieu,  little 
thinking  I  should  never  see  them  again.  I  ran  to  the  inn, 
where  I  had  left  my  horse,  mounted,  and  rode  to Hall. 

Mr.  Somorville  and  his  daughter  had  just  arrived,  and  Emily 
was  lifted  off  her  horse  and  obliged  to  be  carried  up  to  her 
room. 

Clara  and  Talbot  came  to  inquire  what  had  happened.  I 
could  give  no  account  of  it  ;  but  earnestly  requested  to  see 
Emily.  The  answer  retm'ned  was,  that  Miss  Somerville  de- 
clined seeing  me.  In  the  course  of  the  day,  which,  in  point 
of  mental  suffering,  exceeded  all  I  had  ever  endured  in  the 
utmost  severity  of  professional  hardship,  an  explanation  had 
taken  place  between  myself,  my  father,  and  Mr.  Somerville.  I 
had  done  that  by  the  impulse  of  dire  necessity  which  I  ought  to 
have  done  at  first  of  my  own  free  will.  I  was  caught  at  last  in 
my  own  snare.  "  The  trains  of  the  devil  are  long,"  said  I  to 
myself,  "  but.they  are  sure  to  blow  up  at  last." 

•The  consequence  of  the  explanation  was  my  final  dismissal, 
and  a  return  of  all  the  presents  which  my  father  and  myself  had 
given  to  Emily.  My  conduct,  though  blameable,  was  not  viewed 
in  that  heinous  light  either  by  my  father  or  Mr.  Somerville  ; 
and  both  of  them  did  all  that  could  be  done  to  restore  harmony. 
Clara  and  Talbot  interposed  their  kind  ofiBces,  but  with  no  bet- 
ter success.  The  maiden  pride  of  the  inexorable  Emily  had 
been  alarmed  by  a  beautiful  rival,  with  a  young  family,  in  the 
next  village.  The  impression  had  taken  hold  of  her  spotless 
mind,  and  could  not  be  removed.  I  was  false,  fickle,  and  deceit- 
ful, and  was  given  to  understand  that  Miss  Somerville  did  not 
intend  to  quit  her  room  until  she  was  assured  by  her  father  that 
I  was  no  longer  a  guest  in  the  house. 

Under  these  painful  circumstances,  our  remaining  any  longer 
at  the  Hall  was  both  useless  and  irksome — a  source  of  misery  to 
all. 

My  father  ordered  his  horses  the  next  morning,  and  I  was 
carried  back  to  London,  more  dead  than  alive.     A  burning  fever 


376'  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

raged  iu  my  blood ;  and  the  moment  T  reached  my  father's  house, 
I  was  put  to  bed,  and  placed  under  the  care  of  a  physician,  with 
nurses  to  watch  me  night  and  day.  For  three  weeks  I  was  in  a 
state  of  delirium  ;  and  when  I  regained  my  senses,  it  was  only 
to  renew  the  anguish  which  had  caused  my  disorder,  and  I  felt 
any  sentiment  except  gratitude  for  my  recovery. 

My  dear  Clara  had  never  quitted  me  during  my  confinement. 
I  had  taken  no  medicine  but  from  her  hand.  I  asked  her  to 
give  me  some  account  of  what  had  happened.  She  told  me  that 
Talbot  was  gone — that  my  father  had  seen  Mr.  Somerville,  who 
had  informed  him  that  Emily  had  received  a  long  letter  from 
Eugenia,  narrating  every  circumstance,  exculpating  me,  and 
accusing  herself.  Emily  had  wept  over  it,  but  still  remained 
firm  iu  her  resolution  never  to  see  me  more — "  And  I  am  afraid, 
my  dear  brother,"  said  Clara,  "  that  her  resolution  will  not  be 
very  easily  altered.  You  know  her  character,  and  you  should 
know  something  about  our  sex;  but  sailors,  they  say,  go  round 
the  world  without  going  into  it.  This  is  the  only  shadow  of  an 
excuse  I  can  form  for  you,  much  as  I  love  and  esteem  you.  You 
have  hurt  Emily  iu  the  nicest  point,  that  in  which  we  are  all  the 
most  susceptible  of  injury.  You  have  wounded  her  pride,  which 
our  sex  rarely,  if  ever,  forgive.  At  the  very  moment  she  sup- 
posed you  were  devoted  to  her — that  you  were  wrapped  up  in 
the  anticipation  of  calling  her  your  own,  and  counting  the  min- 
utes with  impatience  until  the  happy  day  arrived;  with  all  this 
persuasion  on  her  mind,  she  comes  upon  you,  as  the  traveller  out 
of  the  wood  suddenly  comes  upon  the  poisonous  snake  in  his 
path,  and  cannot  avoid  it.  She  found  you  locked  haud-in-hand 
with  another,  a  fortnight  before  marriage,  and  with  the  fruits  of 
unlawful  love  in  your  arms.  What  woman  could  forgive  this  ? 
1  would  not,  1  assure  you.  If  Tal — ,  I  mean  if  any  man  were 
to  serve  me  so,  I  would  tear  him  from  my  heart,  even  if  the  dis- 
solution of  the  whole  frame  was  to  be  the  certain  couscquence. 
1  consider  it  a  kindness  to  tell  you,  Frank,  that  you  have  no 
hope.  Much  as  you  have  and  will  suffer,  she,  poor  girl,  will 
suffer  more;  and,  allhoiigh  she  will  never  accei)t  you,  she  will 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  377 

not  let  your  place  be  supplied  by  another,  but  sink,  brokeu- 
hcarted,  into  her  grave.  You,  like  all  other  men,  will  forget 
this;  but  what  a  warning-  onglit  it  to  be  to  you,  that  sooner  or 
later,  guilt  will  be  productive  of  misery  !  This  you  have  fully 
proved  :  your  licentious  conduct  with  this  woman  has  ruined  her 
peace  for  ever,  and  divine  vengeance  has  dashed  from  your  lips 
the  cup  which  contained  as  much  happiness  as  this  world  could 
afiford:  nor  has  the  penalty  fallen  on  you  alone — the  innocent 
who  had  no  share  in  the  crime,  are  partakers  in  the  punishment; 
we  are  all  as  miserable  as  yourself.  But  God's  will  be  done," 
continued  she,  as  she  ki.ssed  my  aching  forehead,  and  her  tears 
fell  on  face. 

How  heavenly  is  the  love  of  a  sister  towards  a  brother  !  Clara 
was  now  every  thing  to  me.  Having  said  thus  much  to  me  on 
the  subject  of  my  fault  (and  it  must  be  confessed  that  she  had 
not  been  niggardly  in  the  article  of  words,)  she  never  named 
the  subject  again,  but  sought  by  every  means  in  her  power  to 
amuse  and  comfort  me.  She  listened  to  my  explanation;  she 
admitted  that  our  meeting  at  Bordeaux  was  as  unpremeditated 
as  it  was  unfortunate;  she  condemned  the  imprudence  of  our 
travelling  together,  and  still  more  the  choice  of  a  residence  for 
Eugenia  and  her  son. 

Clara's  affectionate  attention  and  kind  efforts  were  unavailing. 
I  told  her  so,  and  that  all  hopes  of  happiness  for  me  in  this 
world  were  gone  for  ever. 

"  My  dear,  dear  brother,"  said  the  affectionate  girl,  "  answer 
me  one  question.     Did  you  ever    pray  ?" 

My  answer  will  pretty  well  explain  to  the  reader  the  sort  of 
religion  mine  was  : — 

"  Why,  Clara,"  said  I,  "to  tell  you  the  truth,  though  I  may 
not  exactly  pray,  as  you  call  it,  yet  words  are  nothing.  I  feel 
'grateful  to  the  Almighty  for  his  favours  when  he  bestows  them 
on  me;  and  I  believe  a  grateful  heart  is  all  he  requires." 

"Then,  brother,  how  do  you  feel  when  he  afflicts  you?" 

"That  I  have  notliiug  to  tliaiik  him  for,"  an*wered  I. 

"  Then,  my  dear  Frank,  that  is  not  religion." 


3t8  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

"  May  be  so,"  said  I;  "  but  I  am  in  no  humour  to  feel  other- 
wise, at  present ;  so  pray  drop  the  subject." 

She  burst  into  tears.  "  This,"  said  she,  "  is  worse  than  all. 
Shall  we  receive  good  from  the  hand  of  the  Lord,  and  shall  we 
not  receive  evil  ?" 

But  seeing  that  I  was  in  that  sullen  and  untameable  state  of 
mind,  she  did  not  venture  to  renew  the  subject. 

As  soon  as  I  was  able  to  quit  my  room,  I  had  a  long  conver- 
sation with  my  father,  who,  though  deeply  concerned  for  my 
happiness,  said  he  was  quite  certain  that  any  attempt  at  recon- 
cihation  would  be  useless.  He,  therefore,  proposed  two  plans, 
and  I  might  adopt  whichever  was  the  most  likely  to  divert  my 
mind  from  my  heavy  affliction.  The  first  was,  to  ask  his  friends 
at  the  admiralty  to  give  me  the  command  of  a  sloop  of  war:  the 
second,  that  I  should  go  upon  the  continent,  and,  having  passed 
a  year  there,  return  to  England,  when  there  was  no  knowing 
what  change  of  sentiment  time  and  absence  might  not  produce 
in  my  favour.  "  For,"  said  he,  "  there  is  one  very  remarkable 
difiference  in  the  heart  of  man  and  of  woman.  In  the  first,  ab- 
sence is  very  often  a  cure  for  love.  In  the  other,  it  more  fre- 
quently cements  and  consoUdates  it.  In  your  absence,  Emily 
will  dwell  on  the  bright  parts  of  your  character,  and  forget  its 
blemishes.  The  experiment  is  worth  making,  and  it  is  the  only 
way  which  offers  a  chance  of  success." 

I  agreed  to  this.  "  But,"  said  I,  "  as  the  war  with  France 
is  now  over,  and  that  with  America  will  be  terminated  no  doubt 
very  shortly,  I  have  no  wish  to  put  you  to  the  expense,  or  my- 
self to  the  trouble,  of  fitting  out  a  sloop  of  war  in  time  of  peace, 
to  l)e  a  i)leasurc-yacht  for  great  lords  and  ladies,  and  myself  to 
be  neither  more  nor  less  than  a  maltre  dlibtd  ;  and,  after  having 
spent  your  money  and  mine,  and  exhausted  all  my  civilities,  to 
receive  no  thanks,  and  hear  that  I  am  esteemed  at  Almacks' 
only  '  a  tolerable  sea  brute  enough.'  A  sliip,  therefore,  con 
tiimcd  I,  "  I  will  not  have;  and  as  I  think  the  continent  holds 
out  some  novelty  at  least,  1  will,  with  your  consent,  set  oil"." 

This  point  I)cing  settled,  I  told  Clara  of  it.     The  poor  girl's 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  379 

grief  was  immoderate.  "  My  dearest  brother,  I  shall  hjse  you, 
and  be  left  alone  in  the  world.  Your  impetuous  and  unruly 
heart  is  not  in  a  state  to  be  trusted  among  the  gay  and  frivolous 
French.  You  will  be  at  sea  without  your  compass — you  have 
thrown  religion  overboard — and  A\liat  is  to  guide  you  in  the 
hour  of  trial  ?" 

"Fear  not,  dear  Clara,"  said  I;  "my  own  energies  will 
^always  extricate  me  from  the  dangers  you  apprehend." 

"Alas  !  it  is  these  very  energies  which  1  dread,"  said  Clara; 
''  but  I  trust  that  all  will  be  for  the  best.  Accept,"  said  she, 
"  of  this  little  book  from  poor  broken-hearted  Clara;  and,  if  you 
love  her,  look  at  it  sometin'ies." 

I  took  the  book,  and  embracing  her  affectionately,  assured 
her,  that  for  her  sake  I  would  read  it. 

When  I  had  completed  my  arrangements  for  my  foreign  tour, 

I  determined  to  take  one  last  look  at .  Hall  before  I  left 

England.  I  set  off  unknown  to  my  family;  and  contrived  to  be 
near  the  boundaries  of  the  park  Ijy  dusk.  I  desired  the  post- 
boy to  stop  half  a  mile  from  the  house,  and  to  wait  my  return. 
I  cleared  the  paling;  and,  avoiding  the  direct  road,  came  up  to 
the  house.  The  room  usually  occupied  by.  the  family  was  on 
the  ground  floor,  and  I  cautiously  approached  the  window.  Mr. 
Somerville  and  Emily  were  both  there.  He  was  reading  aloud; 
she  sat  at  a  table  with  a  book  before  her;  but  her  thoughts,  it 
was  evident,  were  not  there;  she  had  inserted  her  taper  fingers 
into  the  ringlets  of  her  hair;  until  the  palms  of  her  hand  reached 
her  forehead;  then,  bending  her  head  towards  the  table,  she 
leaned  on  her  elbows,  and  seemed  absorbed  in  the  most  melan- 
choly reflections. 

"This,  too,  is  my  work,"  said  I;  "this  fair  flower  is  blighted, 
and  withering  by  the  contagious  touch  of  my  baneful  hand. 
Good  heaven  !  what  a  wa-etch  am  I  !  whoever  loves  me  is  re- 
warded by  misery.  And  what  have  I  gained  by  this  wide  waste 
and  devastation,  which  my  wickedness  has  spread  around  me? 
Happiness?  no,  no — that  I  have  lost  for  ever.  Would  that  my 
loss  were  all  !  would  that  comfort  might  visit  the  soul  of  this 


380  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

fair  creature  and  auother.  But  I  dare  not — I  cannot  pray  ;  I 
am  at  enmity  with  God  and  man.  Yet  I  will  make  an  effort  iu 
favour  of  this  victim  of  my  baseness.  "  0  God,"  continued  I, 
"  if  the  prayers  of  an  outcast  like  me  can  find  acceptance,  not 
for  myself,  but  for  her,  I  ask  that  peace  which  the  world  cannot 
give ;  shower  down  thy  blessings  upon  her,  alleviate  her  sorrows, 
and  erase  from  her  memory  the  existence  of  such  a  being  as  my- 
self. Let  not  my  hateful  image  hang  as  a  blight  upon  her, 
Deauteous  frame." 

Emily  resumed  her  book,  when  her  father  had  ceased  read- 
ing aloud  ;  and  I  saw  her  wipe  a  tear  from  her  cheek. 

The  excitement  occasioned  by  this  scene,  added  to  my  pre- 
vious illness,  from  the  effects  of  which  I  had  not  sufficiently 
recovered,  caused  a  faintness  ;  I -sat  down  under  the  window, 
in  hopes  that  it  would  pass  off.  It  did  not,  however  ;  for 
I  fell  and  lay  on  the  turf  in  a  state  of  insensibility,  which  must 
have  lasted  nearly  half  an  hour.  I  afterwards  learned  from 
Clara  that  Emily  had  opened  the  window,  it  being  a  French 
one,  to  walk  out  and  recover  herself.  By  the  bright  moon- 
light, slie  perceived  me  lying  on  the  ground.  Her  first  idea 
was,  that  I  had  committed  suicide  ;  and,  with  this  impression, 
she  shut  the  window,  and  tottering  to  the  back  part  of  the 
room,  fainted.  Her  father  ran  to  her  assistance,  and  she 
fell  into  his  arms.  She  was  taken  up  to  her  room,  and  con- 
signed to  the  care  of  her  woman,  who  put  her  to  bed  ;  but 
she  was  unable  to  give  any  account  of  herself,  or  the  cause 
of  her  disorder,  until  the  following  day. 

For  ray  own  part,  I  gradually  came  to  my  senses,  and  with 
diOieulty  regained  my  chaise,  the  driver  of  which  told  me 
that  I  had  been  gone  about  an  hour.  I  drove  oft'  to  town, 
wholly  unaware  that  I  had  been  observed  by  any  one,  much 
less  by  Emily.  When  she  related  to  her  father  what  she 
had  seen,  he  either  disbelieved  or  affected  to  disbelieve  it, 
and  treated  it  as  the  effects  of  a  distempered  mind,  the  phan- 
toms of  a  disordered  imagination  ;  and  she  at  length  began 
to  coincide  with  him. 


THE    NAVAI,    OFFICER.  381 

I  started  for  the  contineut  a  few  days  afterwards.  Tall  ml , 
who  had  seen  little  of  Clara  since  ray  rejection  by  Emily, 
and  subsequent  illness,  offered  my  father  to  accompany  me; 
and  Clara  was  anxipus  that  lie  should  go,  as  she  was  deter- 
mined not  to  listen  to  any  thing  he  could  say  during  my 
affliction  ;  she  could  uot,  she  said,  be  happy,  while  1  was 
miserable,  and  gave  him  no  opportunity  of  conversing  with 
her  on  the  subject  of  their  union. 

We  arrived  at  Paris  ;  but  so  abstracted  was  I  in  thought, 
that  I  neither  saw  nor  heard  any  thing.  Every  attention 
of  Talbot  was  lost  upon  me.  I  continued  in  my  sullen  stupor, 
and  forgot  to  read  the  little  book  which  dear  Clara  had  given, 
aud  which,  for  her  sake,  I  had  promised  to  read.  I  wrote 
to  Eugenia  on  my  arrival  ;  and  disburdened  my  mind  in  some 
measure,  by  acknowledging  my  shameful  treatment  of  her. 
I  implored  her  pardon  ;  and,  by  return  of  post,  received  it. 
Her  answer  was  affectionate  aud  consoling  ;  but  she  stated 
that  her  spirits,  of  course,  were  low,  and  her  health  but  indif- 
ferent. 

For  many  days  my  mind  remained  in  a  state  of  hstless 
insanity  ;  and  Talbot  applied,  or  suffered  others  to  apply, 
the  most  pernicious  stimulant  that  could  be  thought  of  to 
rouse  me  to  action.  Taking  a  quiet  walk  with  him,  we  met 
some  friends  of  his  ;  and,  at  their  request,  we  agreed  to  go 
to  the  saloons  of  the  Palais  Royal.  This  was  a  desperate 
remedy,  and  by  a  miracle  only  was  I  saved  from  utter  and 
irretrievable  ruin.  How  many  of  my  countrymen  have  fallen 
victims  to  the  arts  practised  in  that  horrible  school  of  vice, 
I  dare  not  say  !  Happy  should  I  be  to  think  that  the  in- 
fection had  not  reached  our  owu  shores,  aud  found  patrons 
among  the  great  men  of  the  land.  They  have,  however,  both 
felt  the  consequence,  and  been  forewarned  of  the  danger. 
They  have  no  excuse  ;  mine  was,  that  I  hatl  been  excluded 
from  the  society  of  those  1  loved.  Always  living  by  excite- 
ment, was  it  surprising  that,  when  a  gaming-table  displayed 
its  hoards  before  me,  I  should  have  fallen  at  once  into  the  snare? 


382  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

For  the  first  time  since  my  illness,  I  became  interested, 
and  laid  down  my  money  on  those  abhorred  tables.  My  suc- 
cess was  variable  ;  but  I  congratulated  myself,  that  at  length 
I  had  found  a  stimulus  ;  and  I  anxiously  .awaited  the  return 
of  the  hour  when  the  doors  would  again  be  opened,  and  the 
rooms  lighted  up  for  the  reception  of  company.  I  wou  con- 
siderably ;  and  night  after  night  found  me  at  the  table — 
for  avarice  is  insatiable  ;  but  my  good  luck  left  me  ;  and 
"then  the  same  motive  induced  me  to  return  with  the  hope  of. 
winning  back  what  I  had  lost. 

StUl  fortune  was  unpropitious,  and  I  lost  very  considerable 
sums.  I  became  desperate  ;  and  drew  largely  on  my  father. 
He  wrote  to  beg  that  I  would  be  more  moderate,  as  twice 
his  income  would  not  support  such  an  expenditure.  He  wrote 
also  to  Talbot,  who  informed  him  in  what  manner  the  money 
had  been  expended  ;  and  that  he  had  in  vain  endeavoured 
to  divert  me  from  the  fatal  practice.  Finding  that  no  limits 
were  hkely  to  be  put  to  my  folly,  my  father  very  properly 
refused  to  honour  any  more  of  my  bills. 

Maddened  with  this  intimation,  for  which  I  secretly  blamed 
Talbot,  I  drew  upon  Eugenia's  banker,  bill  after  bUl,  until 
the  sum  amounted  to  more  than  my  father  had  paid.  At 
length  a  letter  came  from  Eugenia.     It  was  but  a  few  lines. 

"  I  know  too  well,  my  dearest  friend,"  said  she,  "  what 
becomes  of  the  money  you  have  received.  If  yon  want  it  all, 
I  caimot  refuse  you  ;  but  remembei-  that  you  are  throwing 
away  the  property  of  your  child." 

This  letter  did  more  to  rouse  me  to  a  sense  of  my  infamous 
conduct  than  the  advice  of  Talbot,  or  the  admonitions  of  my 
father.  I  felt  I  was  acting  like  a  scoundrel;  and  I  resolved 
to  leave  off  gaming.  "One  nighl  more,"  said  I,  ."and  then, 
if  I  lose,  there  is  an  end  of  it;  I  go  no  more."  Talbot  at- 
tended me:  he  felt  he  was  in  some  measure  the  cause  of  my 
being  fii'st  initiated  in  this  pernicious  amusement :  and  he 
watched  my  motions  with  unceasing  anxiety. 

The  game   was   rouge  et  noir.      I   threw  a   large   sura    on 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  383 

the  red.  I  won,  left  the  stake,  doubled  and  won  again.  The 
heap  of  gold  had  increased  to  a  large  size,  and  still  remained 
to  abide  the  chance  of  the  card.  Again,  again,  and  again, 
it  was  doubled.  Seven  times  had  the  red  card  been  turned 
up ;  and  seven  times  had  ray  gold  been  douljlcd.  Talbot, 
who  stood  behind  me,  unplored  and  begged  me  earnestly  to 
leave  off. 

"  What  may  be  the  consequence  of  one  card  against  you  ? 
Trust  no  more  to  fortune  ;  be  content  with  what  you  have 
got." 

"  That,"  muttered  I,  "  Talbot,  is  of  no  use  ;  I  must  have 
more." 

Again  came  up  the  red,  to  the  astonishment  of  the  bystand- 
ers ;  and  to  their  still  greater  astonishment,  my  gold  which  had 
increased  to  an  enormous  heap,  still  remained  on  the  table. 
Talbot  again  entreated  me  not  to  tempt  fortune  foolishly. 

"  Folly,"  said  I,  "  Talbot,  has  already  been  committed  ;  and 
one  more  card  will  do  the  business.     It  must  be  done." 

The  bankers  knowing,  after  eight  red  cards  had  been  turned 
up,  how  great  the  chance  was  of  regaining  all  their  losses  I)y  a 
double  or  quits,  agreed  to  the  ninth  card.  Talbot  treml)led 
like  a  leaf.  The  card  was  turned  ;  it  came  up  red,  and  the 
bank  was  broke. 

Here  all  play  ceased  for  that  night.  The  losers,  of  course, 
vented  their  feelings  in  the  most  blasphemous  execrations  ; 
while  I  quietly  collected  all  my  winnings,  and  returned  home  in 
a  fiacre,  with  Talbot,  who  took  the  precaution  of  requesting  the 
attendance  of  two  gendarmes.  These  were  each  rewarded 
with  a  Napoleon,* 

"  Now,  Talbot,"  said  I,  "  I  solemnly  swear,  as  I  hope  to  go 
►  to  heaven,  never  to  play  again."  And  this  promise  I  have 
most  religiously  kept.  My  good  fortune  was  one  instance  in 
ten  thousand,  among  those  who  have  been  ruined  in  that  house. 
The  next  morning  I  refunded  all  I  had  drown  upon  Eugenia, 
and  all  my  father  had  supplied  me  with,  and  there  still  remained 
a  considerable  residue. 


384  FRANK    MILDHIAY  ;    OR, 

Determined  not  to  continue  in  this  vortex  of  dissipation  any 
longer,  where  my  resohition  was  hourly  put  to  the  test,  Talbot 
and  myself  agreed  to  travel  down  to  Brest,  an  arsenal  we  were 
both  desirous  of  seeing. 


CHAPTER   XXVIII. 

Pal. — Thou  art  a  traitor,  Arcite,  and  a  fellow 
False  as  thy  title  to  her.     Friendship,  blood, 
And  all  the  ties  between  us,  I  disclaim. 

Arc. — You  are  mad. 

Pal. — I  must  be, 
Till  thou  art  worthy,  Arcite ;  it  concerns  me ! 
And,  in  this  madness,  if  I  hazard  thee 
And  take  t)iy  life,  I  deal  but  truly. 

Arc. — Fie,  sir  !  Two  .N'oble  Kinsmkn. 

We  quitted  Paris  two  days  after  ;  and  a  journey  of  three  days, 
through  an  uninteresting  country,  brought  us  to  the  little  town 
of  Granville,  on  the  sea-coast,  in  the  channel.  We  remainotl 
at  this  delightful  place  some  days  ;  and  our  letters  being  regu- 
larly forwarded  to  us,  brought  us  intelligence  from  England. 
My  father  expressed  his  astonishment  at  my  returning  the 
money  drawn  for  ;  and  trusted,  unaccountable  as  the  restitution 
appeared,  that  I  was  not  ofteiided,  and  would  consider  him  my 
banker,  as  far  as  his  expenditure  and  style  of  living  would  per- 
mit him  to  advance. 

Eugenia,  in  her  letters,  reproached  herself  for  having  written 
to  me  ;  and  concluded  that  I  had  drawn  so  largely  upon  her, 
merely  to  prove  her  sincerity.  She  assured  me  that  her  caution 
to  me  was  not  dictated  by  selfishness,  but  from  a  consideration 
for  the  child. 

Clara's  letter  informed  me  that  every  attempt,  even  to  ser- 
vility, had  been  made,  in  order  to  induce  Emily  to  alter  her 
determination,  but  without  success  ;  and  that  a  coolness  had, 
in  consequence,  taken  place,  and  almost  an  entire  interruption 
of  the  intimacy  between  the  families.     Slic  also  added,  "  I  ara 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  385 

afraid  that  jour  friend  is  even  worse  than  yourself ;  for  I  under- 
stand that  he  is  engaged  to  another  woman,  and  has  been  so 
for  years.  Now,  as  I  must  consider  that  the  great  tie  of  your 
intimacy  is  iiis  supposed  partiality  to  me,  and  as  I  conceive  you 
are  under  a  false  impression  with  respect  to  his  sincerity,  I 
think  it  my  duty  to  make  you  acquainted  with  all  I  know.  It 
is  impossible  that  you  can  esteem  the  man  who  has  trifled  with 
the  feelings  of  your  sister  ;  and  I  sincerely  hope  that  the 
next  letter  from  you  will  inform  me  of  your  having  sepa- 
rated." 

How  little  did  poor  Clara  think,  when  she  wrote  this  letter, 
of  the  consequences  likely  to  arise  from  it  ;  that  in  thus  venting 
her  complaints,  she  was  exploding  a  mine  which  was  to  produce 
results  ten  times  more  fatal  than  any  thing  which  had  yet  be- 
fallen us  ! 

I  was  at  this  period  in  a  misanthropic  state  of  mind,  hating 
myself  and  every  one  about  me.  The  company  of  Talbot  had 
long  been  endured,  not  enjoyed  ;  and  I  would  gladly  have 
availed  myself  of  any  plausible  excuse  for  a  separation.  True, 
he  was  my  friend  ;  he  had  proved  himself  so  ;  but  I  was  in  no 
humour  to  acknowledge  favours.  Discarded  by  her  I  loved,  I 
discarded  every  one  else.  Talbot  was  a  log  and  a  chain,  and  I 
thought  I  could  not  get  rid  of  him  too  soon.  This  letter,  there- 
fore, gave  me  a  fair  opportunity  of  venting  my  spleen  ;  but  in- 
stead of  a  cool  dismissal,  as  Clara  requested,  I  determined  to 
dismiss  him  or  myself  into  another  world. 

Having  finished  reading  my  letter,  I  laid  it  down,  and  made 
no  observation.  Talbot,  with  his  usual  kind  and  benevolent 
countenance,  inquired  if  1  had  any  news  ?  "  Yes,"  replied  I, 
I  have  discovered  that  you  are  a  villain  ?" 

"  That  is  news,  indeed,"  said  he  ;  "  and  strange  tliat  the 
brother  of  Clara  should  have  been  the  messenger  to  convey  it  ; 
but  this  is  language,  Frank,  which  not  even  your  unhappy  state 
of  mind  can  excuse.    Retract  your  words." 

"  I  repeat  them,"  said  I.  "  You  have  trifled  with  my  sister, 
and  are  a  villain."     (Had  this  been  true,  it  was  no  more  than  I 

17 


386  FRANK    MILDMAV  ;    OR, 

bad  doue  myself  ;  but  my  victims  had  no  brothers  to  avenge 
their  wrongs.) 

"  The  name  of  Clara,"  rephed  Talbot,  "  calms  me:  believe  me, 
Frank,  you  are  mistaken.  I  love  her,  and  have  always  had  the 
most  honom-able  intentions  towards  her." 

"  Yes,"  said  I,  with  a  sarcastic  sneer,  "  at  the  time  you  have 
been  engaged  to  another  woman  for  years.  To  one  or  the 
other  you  must  acknowledge  yourself  a  scoundrel  ;  I  do  not, 
therefore,  withdraw  my  appellation,  but  repeat  it ;  and  as  you 
seem  so  very  patient  under  injuries,  I  inform  you  that  you  must 
either  meet  me  on  the  sands  this  evening,  or  consent  to  be  stig- 
matized with  another  name,  still  more  revolting  to  the  feelings 
of  an  Englishman." 

"  Enough,  enough,  Frank,"  said  Talbot,  with  a  face  in  which 
conscious  innocence  and  manly  fortitude  w^ere  blended  ;  "  you 
have  said  more  than  I  ever  expected  to  have  heard  from  you, 
and  more  than  the  customs  of  the  world  will  allow  me  to  put 
up  with.  What  must  be,  must  ;  but  I  still  tell  you,  Frank, 
that  you  are  wrong — that  you  are  fatally  deluded,  and  that  you 
will  bitterly  repent  the  follies  of  this  day.  It  is  yourself  with 
whom  you  are  angry,  and  you  are  venting  that  anger  on  your 
friend." 

These  words  were  thrown  away  on  me.  I  felt  a  secret  malig- 
nant pleasure,  which  blindly  impelled  me  forward,  with  the  cer- 
tainty of  glutting  my  revenge,  by  either  destroying  or  being 
destroyed.  My  sole  preparation  for  this  dreadful  conflict  was 
my  pistols  ;  no  other  did  I  think  of,  not  even  the  chances  of 
sending  my  friend  and  fellow  mortal,  or  going  myself,  into  the 
presence  of  an  almighty  Judge.  My  mind  was  absorbed  in 
secret  pleasure,  at  the  idea  of  the  acute  misery  which  Emily 
would  suffer  if  I  fell  by  the  hand  of  Talbot. 

I  repaired  to  the  rendezvous,  where  I  found  Talbot  waiting. 
He  came  up  to  me,  and  again  said  : 

"  Frank,  I  call  Jleaven  to  witness  that  you  are  mistaken. 
You  are  wrong.  Suspend  your  opinion,  at  least,  if  you  will  not 
recall  your  words." 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  381 

Totally  possessed  by  the  devil,  and  not  to  be  couviuced,  till 
too  late,  I  replied  to  his  peaceful  overture  by  the  most  insulting 
irony  :  "  You  were  not  afraid  to  fire  at  a  poor  boy  in  the 
water,"  said  I,  "  though  you  do  not  like  to  stand  a  shot  iu 
return.  Come,  come,  take  your  ground,  be  a  man,  stand  up, 
don't  be  afraid." 

"  For  myself,"  said  Talbot,  with  a  firm  and  placid  resignation 
of  counteuauce,  "  I  have  no  fears  ;  but  for  you,  Frank,  I  have 
great  cause  of  alarm  :"  so  saying,  he  snatched  up  the  loaded 
pistol  which  I  threw  down  to  him. 

We  had  no  seconds  :  nor  was  there  any  person  in  sight.  It 
was  a  bright  moonlight,  and  we  walked  to  the  water's 
edge,  where  the  reflux  of  the  tide  had  left  the  sand  firm  to  the 
tread.  Here  we  stood  back  to  back.  The  usual  distance  was 
fourteen  paces.  Talbot  refused  to  measure  his,  but  stood  per- 
fectly still.  I  walked  ten  paces,  and  turned  round.  "  Ready," 
said  I,  in  a  low  voice. 

We  both  raised  our  arms  ;  but  Talbot  instantly  dropping 
the  muzzle  of  his  pistol,  said,  "  I  cannot  fire  at  the  brother  of 
Clara." 

"  I  can  at  her  insulter,"  answered  I  ;  and,  taking  deliberate 
aim,  fired,  and  my  l^all  entered  his  side.  He  bounded,  gave  a 
half  turn  round  in  the  air,  and  fell  on  his  face  to  the  ground. 

How  sudden  are  the  transitions  of  the  human  mind  !  how 
close  does  remorse  follow  the  gratification  of  revenge  !  The 
veil  dropped  from  my  eyes  ;  I  saw  in  an  instant  the  false 
medium,  the  deceitful  vision  which  had  thus  allured  me  into 
what  the  world  calls  "  an  affair  of  honour."  "  Honour,"  good 
heaven  !  had  made  me  a  murderer,  and  the  voice  of  my  brother's 
blood  cried  out  for  vengeance. 

The  manly  and  athletic  form,  which  one  minute  before  excited 
my  most  malignant  hatred,  when  now  prostrate  and  speechless, 
became  an  object  of  frantic  affection.  I  ran  to  Talbot,  and 
when  it  was  too  late,  perceived  the  mischief  I  had  done. 
Murder,  cruelty,  injustice,  and,  above  all,  the  most  detestable 
ingratitude,  flushed  at  once  into  my  over-crowded  imagination. 


388  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

I  turned  the  body  round,  and  tried  to  discover  if  there  were  any 
signs  of  life.  A  small  stream  of  blood  ran  from  his  side,  and, 
about  two  feet  from  him,  was  lost  in  the  absorbing  sand  ;  while 
from  the  violence  of  his  fall  the  sand  had  filled  his  mouth  and 
nostrils.  I  cleaned  them  out ;  and  stanching  the  wound  with 
my  handkerchief,  for  the  blood  flowed  copiously  at  every  respi- 
ration, 1  sat  on  the  sea-shore  by  his  side,  supporting  him  in  my 
arms.  I  only  exclaimed,  "  Would  to  God  the  shark,  the  poison? 
the  sword  of  the  enemy,  or  the  precipice  of  Trinidad  had 
destroyed  me  before  this  fatal  hour," 

Talbot  opened  his  languid  eyes,  and  fixed  them  on  me  with  a 
glassy  stare  ;  but  he  did  not  speak.  Suddenly,  recollection 
seemed  for  a  moment  to  return — he  recognized  me,  and,  oh 
God,  his  look  of  kindness  pierced  my  heart.  He  made  several 
efforts  to  speak,  and  at  last  said,  in  broken  accents,  and  at  long 
and  painful  intervals  : 

"  Look  at — letter— writing-desk — read  all — explain — God 
bless — "     His  head  fell  back,  and  he  was  dead. 

Oh,  how  I  envied  him  !  Had  he  been  ten  thousand  times 
more  guilty  than  I  had  ever  supposed  him,  it  would  have  given 
no  comfort  to  my  mind.  I  had  murdered  him,  and  too  late  I 
acknowledged  his  innocence.  I  know  not  why,  and  can  scarcely 
tell  how  I  did  it,  but  I  took  off  my  neckcloth  and  bound  it 
tightly  round  his  waist,  over  the  wound.  The  blood  ceased  to 
flow.  I  left  the  body,  and  returned  to  our  lodging,  in  a  state 
of  mental  prostration  and  misery,  proportioned  to  the  heat  and 
excitement  with  which  I  had  quitted  it. 

.  My  first  object  was  to  read  the  letters  which  my  poor  friend 
had  referred  to.  On  my  arrival,  both  our  servants  were  up. 
My  hands  and  clothes  were  dyed  with  blood,  and  they  looked 
at  me  with  astonishment.  I  ran  hastily  up  stairs,  to  avoid 
them,  and  took  the  writing-desk,  the  key  of  which  I  knew  hung 
to  his  watch  chain.  Seizing  the  poker,  I  split  it  open,  and  took 
out  the  packet  he  mentioned.  At  this  moment  his  servant 
entered  the  room. 

"  Et  mon  maitre,  Monsieur,  ou  cst-il  ?" 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  389 

"  I  have  murdered  him,"  said  I,  "  and  you  will  find  him 
on  the  sands,  near  the  signal-post  ;  and,"  continued  I,  "  I  am 
now  robbing-  him  !" 

My  appearance  and  actions  seemed  to  prove  the  truth  of  my 
assertion.  The  man  flew  out  of  the  room  :  but  I  was  regard- 
less of  every  thing,  and  even  wonder  why  1  should  have  given 
my  attention  to  the  letters  at  all,  especially  as  I  had  now  con- 
vinced myself  of  Talbot's  innocence.  The  packet,  however,  I 
did  read  ;  and  it  consisted  of  a  series  of  letters  between  Talbot 
and  his  father,  who  had  engaged  him  to  a  young  lady  of  rank 
and  fortune,  without  consultmg  him — un&  manage  de  convemince 
— which  Talbot  had  resisted  in  consequence  of  his  attachment 
to  Clara. 

I  have  already  stated  that  Talbot  was  of  high  aristocratic 
family  ;  and  tliis  marriage  being  wislied  for  by  the  parents 
of  both  parties,  they  had  given  it  cut  aj?  being  finally  settled  to 
take  place  on  the  return  of  Talbot  to  England.  In  the  last 
letter,  the  father  had  yielded  to  his  entreaties  iu  favour  of 
Clara  ;  only  requesting  him  not  to  be  precipitate  in  ofieriug 
himself,  as  he  wished  to  find  some  excuse  for  breaking  off  the 
match  ;  and,  above  all,  he  fatally  enjoined  profound  secrecy  till 
the  affair  was  arranged.  Here,  then,  was  every  thing  explained. 
Indeed,  before  I  had  read  these  letters,  my  mind  did  not  need 
this  damning  proof  of  his  innocence  and  my  guilt. 

Just  as  I  had  finished  reading,  the  gendarmes  entered  my 
room,  and,  with  the  officers  of  justice,  led  me  away  to  prison. 
I  walked  mechanically.  I  was  conducted  to  a  small  building  in 
the  centre  of  a  square.  This  was  a  cachot,  with  an  iron-grated 
window  on  each  of  its  four  sides,  but  without  glass.  There  was 
no  bench,  or  tal)le,  or  any  thing  but  the  bare  walls  and  the 
pavement.  The  wind  blew  sharply  through — I  had  not  even  a 
great  coat ;  but  I  felt  no  cold  or  personal  inconvenience,  for 
my  mind  was  too  much  occupied  by  superior  misery.  The 
door  closed'  on  me,  and  I  heard  the  bolts  turn.  There  was  not 
an  observation  made  on  either  part,  and  I  was  left  to  myself. 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  Fate  has  now  done  its  worst,  and  Fortune 


390  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

will  be  weary  at  last  of  tormenting  a  wretch  that  she  can  sink 

no  lower  !    Death  has  no  terrors  for  me,  and  after  death !" 

But,  even  in  my  misery,  I  scarcely  gave  a  thought  to  what 
might  happen  in  futurity.  It  might  occasionally  have  obtruded 
itself  on  my  mind,  but  was  quickly  dismissed  ;  I  had  adopted 
the  atheistical  creed  of  the  French  Revolution. 

"  Death  is  eternal  sleep,  and  the  sooner  I  go  to  sleep  the 
better,"  thought  I.  The  only  point  that  pressed  itself  on  my 
mind  was  the  dread  of  a  public  execution.  This  my  pride 
revolted  at ;  for  pride  had  again  returned,  and  resumed  its 
empire,  even  in  my  cachot. 

As  the  day  dawned,  the  noise  of  the  carts  and  country  people 
coming  into  the  square  with  their  produce,  roused  me  from  my 
reverie,  for  I  had  not  slept.  The  prison  was  surrounded  by  all 
ages  and  all  classes,  to  get  a  sight  of  ihe  English  murderer  ; 
and  the  light  and  the  air  were  stopped  out  of  each  window  by 
human  faces  pressed  against  the  bars.  I  was  gazed  at  as  a  wild 
beast ;  and  the  children,  as  they  sat  on  their  mothers'  shoulders 
to  look  at  me,  received  a  moral  lesson  and  a  warning  at  my 
expense. 

As  a  tiger  in  his  cage  wearies  the  eye  by  incessantly  walking 
and  turning,  so  I  paced  my  den  ;  and  if  I  could  have  reached 
one  of  the  impertinent  gazers,  through  the  slanting  aperture 
and  three  foot  wall,  I  should  have  throttled  him.  "  All  these 
people,"  said  I,  "  and  thousands  more,  will  witness  my  last 
moments  on  the  scaffold  1" 

Stung  with  this  dreadful  thought,  with  rage  I  searched  in  my 
pockets  for  my  penknife,  to  relieve  me  at  once  from  my  tor- 
ments and  apprehensions  ;  and  had  I  found  it,  I  should  cer- 
tainly have  committed  suicide.  Fortunately,  I  had  left  it  at 
home,  or  it  would  have  been  buried,  in  that  moment  of  frenzy, 
in  the  carotid  artery  ;  for,  as  well  as  others,  I  knew  exactly 
where  to  find  it. 

The  crowd  at  length  began  to  disperse  ;  the  windows  were 
left,  except  now  and  then  an  urchin  of  a  boy  showed  his  ragged 
head  at  the  grille.     Worn  out  with  bodily  fatigue  and  mental 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  391 

suflfering,  I  was  going  to  throw  myself  along  upon  tlic  cold 
stones,  when  I  saw  the  face  of  my  own  servant,  who  advanced 
in  haste  to  the  window  of  the  prison,  exclaiming  with  joy — 
"Courage,  mon  chtr  maitre ;  Monsieur  Talbot  n^ est  pas  mort." 
"  Not  dead  !"  exclaimed  I  (falling  unconsciously  on  ray 
knees,  and  lifting  up  my  clasped  hands  and  haggard  eyes 
to  heaven),  "  not  dead  1  God  be  praised.  At  least  there  is  a 
hope  that  I  may  escape  the  crime  of  murder." 

Before  I  could  say  more,  the  mayor  entered  my  aic/iot  with 
the  officers  of  the  police,  and  informed  me  that  a  proces-vcrbal 
had  been  held  ;  that  my  friend  had  been  able  to  give  the 
clearest  answers  to  all  their  questions  ;  and  that  it  appeared 
from  the  evidence  of  Monsieur  Talbot  himself  that  it  was  an 
affair  de  rhonnewr,  fairly  decided  ;  that  the  brace  of  pistols 
found  in  the  water  had  confirmed  his  assertions  :  "  And  there- 
fore. Monsieur, ^^  continued  the  mayor,  "  whether  your  friend  lives 
or  dies,  tout  a  ete  fait  en  regie,  et  vous  etes  libre." 

So  saying,  he  bowed  very  politely,  and  pointed  to  the  door  ; 
nor  was  I  so  ceremonious  as  to  beg  him  to  show  me  the  way  ; 
out  I  ran,  and  flew  to  the  apartment  of  Talbot,  who  had  sent 
my  servant  to  say  how  much  he  wished  to  see  me.  I  found 
him  iu  bed.  As  I  entered,  he  held  out  his  hand  to  me,  which  I 
covered  with  kisses  and  bathed  with  my  tears. 
"  Oh,  Talbot !"  said  I,  "  can  you  forgive  me  ?" 
He  squeezed  my  hand,  and  from  exhaustion  let  it  fall.  The 
surgeon  led  me  out  of  the  room,  saying,  "  All  depends  on  his 
being  kept  quiet."  I  then  learned  that  he  owed  his  life  to  two 
circumstances — the  first  was,  my  having  bound  my  neckcloth 
round  the  wound  ;  the  other  was,  that  the  duel  took  place 
below  high-water  mark.  The  tide  was  rising  when  I  left  him  ; 
and  the  cold  waves,  as  they  rij)pled  against  his  body,  had 
restored  him  to  animation.  In  this  state  he  was  found  by  his 
servant,  not  many  minutes  before  the  flood  would  have  covered 
him,  for  he  had  not  strength  to  remove  out  of  its  way.  I 
ascertained  also  that  the  ball  had  entered  his  liver,  and  had 
passed  out  without  doing  farther  injury. 


392  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

I  now  dressed  myself,  aud  devoutly  thauking  God  for  his 
miraculous  preservation,  took  my  seat  by  the  bed-side  of  the 
patient,  which  I  never  quitted  until  his  perfect  recovery. 
When  this  was  happily  completed,  I  \vrote  to  my  father  and  to 
Clara,  giving  both  au  exact  account  of  the  whole  transaction. 
Clara,  undeceived,  made  no  scruple  of  acknowledging  her 
attachment.  Talbot  was  requested  by  his  father  to  return 
liome.  I  accompanied  him  as  far  as  Calais,  where  we  parted  ; 
and  in  a  few  weeks  after  I  had  the  pleasure  of  hearing  that  my 
sister  had  become  his  wife. 

Left  to  myself,  I  returned  slowly,  and  much  depressed  in 
sp'rits,  to  Quillac's  ;  where,  ordering  post-horses,  I  threw  my- 
self into  Hiy  travelling-carriage,  into  which  my  valet  had,  by  my 
orders,  previously  placed  my  luggage. 

"  Where  are  you  going  to.  Monsieur  ?"  said  the  valet. 

"Au  d'lable .'"  said  I. 

"Mais  les  passeportsV  said  the  man. 

I  felt  that  I  had  sufficient  passports  for  the  journey  I  had 
proposed  ;  but  correcting  myself,  said,  "  To  Switzerland."  It 
was  the  first  name  that  came  into  my  head  ;  and  I  had  heard 
that  it  was  the  resort  of  all  my  countrymen  whose  heads,  hearts, 
lungs,  or  finances  were  disordered.  But,  during  my  journey,  I 
neither  saw  nor  heard  anything,  consequently  took  no  notes, 
Yv'hich  my  readers  will  rejoice  at,  because  they  will  be  spared 
that  inexhaustible  supply  to  the  trunk-makers,  "A  Tour  through 
France  and  Switzerland."  I  travelled  niglit  and  day  ;  for  I 
could  not  sleep.  The  allegory  of  lo  and  the  gad-fly,  in  the 
heathen  mythok)gy,  must  surely  have  been  intended  to  repre- 
sent the  being,  who,  like  myself,  was  tormented  by  a  bad  con- 
science. Like  lo,  1  flew  ;  and  like  her  was  I  pursued  by  the 
eternal  gad-fly,  wherever  I  went,  aud  in  vain  did  I  try  to  escape  it. 

I  passed  the  Great  St.  Bernard  on  foot.  This  interested  me 
as  I  approached  it.  The  mountains  below,  and  the  Alps  above, 
were  one  mass  of  snow  and  ice,  and  I  looked  down  with  con- 
tempt on  the  world  behnv  me.  I  took  uj)  my  abode  in  the  con. 
vent  lor  some  time  ;  my  ample  contributions  to  the  box  in  the 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  393 

chapel  made  me  a  welcome  sojom-uer  beyond  the  limited  period 
allowed  to  travellers,  aud  I  felt  less  and  less  inclined  to  quit  the 
scene.  My  amusement  was  climbing  the  most  frightful  preci- 
pices, followed  by  the  large  aud  faithful  dogs,  and  viewing 
nature  in  her  wildest  and  most  sublime  attire.  At  other  times, 
when  bodily  fatigue  required  rest,  I  sat  down,  with  morljid 
melancholy,  in  the  receptacle  for  the  bodies  of  those  unfortu- 
nate persons  who  had  perished  in  the  snow.  There  would  I 
remain  for  hours,  musing  on  their  fate  ;  the  purity  of  the  air 
admitted  neither  putrefaction  uor  even  decay,  for  a  very  consi- 
derable time  ;  and  they  lay,  to  all  appearance,  as  if  the  breath 
had  even  then  only  quitted  them,  although,  on  touching  those 
who  had  been  there  for  years,  they  would  often  crumble  into 
dust. 

Roman  Catholics,  we  know,  are  ever  anxious  to  make  con- 
verts. The  prior  asked  me  whether  I  was  not  a  Protestant  ?  I 
replied,  that  1  was  of  no  religion  ;  which  answer  was,  I  believe, 
much  nearer  to  the  truth  than  any  otlier  I  could  have  given. 
The  reply  was  far  more  favourable  to  the  hopes  of  the  monks, 
than  if  I  had  said  I  was  a  heretic  or  a  Moslem.  They  thought 
me  much  more  likely  to  become  a  convert  to  tJieir  religion, 
since  I  had  none  of  my  own  to  oppose  to  it.  The  monks  imme- 
diately arranged  themselves  in  theological  order,  with  the  whole 
armour  of  faith,  and  laid  constant  siege  to  me  on  all  sides;  but. 
I  was  not  inclined  to  any  religion,  much  less  to  one  I  despised. 
1  would  sooner  have  turned  Turk. 

I  received  a  letter  from  poor  unhappy  Eugenia — it  was  the 
last  she  ever  wrote.  It  was  to  acquaint  me  with  the  death  of 
her  lovely  boy,  who,  having  wandered  from  the  house,  had 
fallen  in  a  trout-stream,  where  he  was  found  drowned  some 
hours  after.  In  her  distracted  state  of  mind,  she  could  add  no 
more  than  her  blessing,  and  a  firm  conviction  that  we  should 
never  meet  again  in  this  world.  Iler  letter  concluded  incohe- 
rently ;  and  although  I  should  have  said  in  the  morning,  that 
my  mind  had  not  room  for  another  sorrow,  yet  the  loss  of  this 
sweet  boy,  aud  the  state  of  his  wretched  mother,  found  a  place 


394  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

in  my  bosom  for  a  time,  to  the  total  exclusion  of  all  other 
cares.  She  requested  me  to  hasten  to  her  without  delay,  if  I 
wished  to  see  her  before  she  died. 

I  took  leave  of  the  monks,  and  travelled  with  all  speed  to, 
Paris,  and  thence  to  Calais.  Reaching  Quillac's  hotel,  I 
received  a  shock,  which,  although  I  apprehended  danger,  I  was 
not  prepared  for.  It  was  a  letter  from  Eugenia's  agent, 
announcing  her  death.  She  had  been  seized  with  a  brain  fever, 
and  had  died  at  a  small  town  in  Norfolk,  where  she  had 
removed  soon  after  our  last  unhappy  interview.  The  agent 
concluded  his  letter  by  saying,  that  Eugenia  had  bequeathed 
me  all  her  property,  which  was  very  considerable,  and  that  her 
last  rational  words  to  him  were,  that  I  was  her  first  and  her 
only  love. 

I  was  now  callous  to  suffering.  My  feelings  had  been  racked 
to  insensibility.  Like  a  ship  in  a  hurricane,  the  last  tremendous 
sea  had  swept  every  thing  from  the  decks — the  vessel  was  a 
wreck,  driving  as  the  storm  might  chance  to  direct.  In  the 
midst  of  this  devastation,  I  looked  around  me,  and  the  only 
object  which  presented  itself  to  my  mind,  as  worthy  of  contem- 
plation, was  the  tomb  which  contained  the  remains  of  Eugenia 
and  her  child.     To  that  I  resolved  to  repair. 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  395 


CHAPTER  XXIX. 

With  sorrow  and  repentance  true, 
Father,  I  trembling  come  to  you. 

•  Song. 

I  ARRIVED  at  the  town  where  poor  Eugenia  had  breathed  her 
last,  and  near  to  which  was  the  cemetery  in  which  her  remains 
were  deposited.  I  Aveut  to  the  inn,  wlience,  after  having  dis- 
missed my  post-boy  and  ordered  my  luggage  to  be  taken  up  to 
ray  room,  I  proceeded  on  foot  towards  the  spot.  I  was 
informed  that  the  path  lay  between  the  church  and  the  bishop's 
palace.  I  soon  reached  it  ;  and,  inquiring  for  the  sexton,  who 
lived  in  a  cottage  hard  by,  requested  he  would  lead  me  to  a 
certain  grave,  which  I  indicated  by  tokens  too  easily  known. 

"  Oh,  you  mean  the  sweet  young  lady,  as  died  of  grief  for 
the  loss  of  her  little  boy.  There  it  is,"  continued  he,  pointing 
with  his  finger  ;  "  the  white  peacock  is  now  sitting  on  the  head- 
stone of  the  grave,  and  the  little  boy  is  buried  beside  it." 

I  approached,  while  the  humble  sexton  kindly  withdrew,  that 
I  might,  without  witness,  indulge  that  grief  which  he  saw  was 
the  burden  of  my  aching  heart.  The  bird  remained,  but  with- 
out dressing  its  plumage,  without  the  usual  air  of  surprise  and 
vigilance  evinced  by  domestic  fowls,  when  disturbed  iu  their 
haunts.  The  poor  creature  was  moulting  ;  its  feathers  were 
rumpled  and  disordered  ;  its  tail  ragged.  There  was  no  beauty 
in  the  animal,  which  was  probably  only  kept  as  a  variety  of  the 
species  ;  and  it  appeared  to  me  as  if  it  had  been  placed  there 
as  a  lesson  to  myself.  In  its  modest  attire,  in  its  melancholy 
and  pensive  attitude,  it  seemed,  with  its  gaudy  plumage,  to 
have  dismissed  the  world  and  its  vartities,  while  in  mournful 
silence  it  surveyed  the  crowded  mementoes  of  eternity. 

"  This  is  my  olfice,  not  thine,"  said  I,  apostrophizing  the 
bird,  which,  alarmed  at  my  near  apjiroach,  quitted  its  position, 
and  disappeared  among  the  surrounding  tombs.  I  sat  down, 
and  fixing  my  eyes  on  the  name  which  the  tablet  bore,  ran  over, 


39G 


FRANK    MILDMAY 


OR, 


ia  a  hurried  maauer,  all  that  part  of  my  career  which  had  been 
more  immediately  connected  with  the  history  of  Eugenia.  1 
remembered  her  many  virtues  ;  her  self-devotion  for  my  honour 
and  happiness  ;  her  concealing  herself  from  me,  that  I  might 
liot  blast  my  prospects  in  life  by  continuing  an  intimacy  which 
she  saw  would  end  in  my  ruin  ;  her  firmness  of  character,  her 
disinterested  generosity,  and  the  refinement  of  attachment 
which  made  her  prefer  misery  and  solitude  to  her  own  gratifica- 
tion in  the  society  of  the  man  she  loved.  She  had,  alas  !  but 
one  fault,  and  that  fault  was  loving  me.  I  could  not  drive  from 
my  thoughts,  that  it  was  through  my  unfortunate  and  illicit  con- 
nexion with  her  that  I  had  lost  all  that  made  life  dear  to  me. 

At  this  moment  (and  not  once  since  the  morning  I  awoke 
from  it)  my  singular  dream  recurred  to  my  mind.  The  thoughts 
which  never  had  once  during  my  eventful  voyage  from  the 
Bahamas  to  the  Cape,  and  thence  to  England,  presented  them- 
selves to  my  waking  hours,  must  certainly  have  possessed  my 
brain  during  sleep.  Why  else  should  it  never  have  occurred  to 
my  rational  mind  that  the  connexion  with  Eugenia  would  cer- 
tainly endanger  that  intended  with  Emily  ?  It  was  Eugenia 
that  placed  Emily  in  mourning,  out  of  my  reach,  and,  as  it 
were,  on  tlie  top  of  the  Nine-pin  Rock. 

Here,  then,  my  dream  was  explained;  and  I  now  felt  all  the 
horrors  of  that  reality  which  I  thought  at  the  time  was  no 
more  than  the  effect  of  a  disordered  imagination.  Yet  I  could 
not  blame  Eugenia;  the  poor  girl  had  fallen  a  victim  to  that 
deplorable  and  sensual  education  which  I  had  received  in  the 
cockpit  of  a  man-of-war.  I,  I  alone  was  the  culprit.  She  was 
friendless,  and  without  a  parent  to  guide  her  youthful  steps; 
she  fell  a  victim  to  my  ungoverned  passion.  Maddened  witii 
anguish  of  head  and  heart,  I  threw  myself  violently  on  the 
grave;  I  beat  my  miserable  head  against  the  tombstones;  I 
called  witli  frantic  exclamations  on  tlie  name  of  Eugenia;  and 
at  length  -sunk  on  the  turf,  between  the  two  graves,  in  a  stati 
of  stupor  and  exhaustion,  from  which  a  copious  flood  of  tears 
iu  some  measure  relieved  me. 


:J| 


THK    NAVAL    OFFICER.  391 

I  was  aroused  l)y  tlie  sound  of  wheels  and  the  trampling  of 
horses;  and  looking  up,  I  perceived  the  bishop's  carriage  and 
four,  with  out-riders,  pass  by.  The  livery  and  colour  of  the 
carriage  were  certainly  what  is  denominated  (juiet;  but  there 
was  an  appearance  of  state  which  indicated  that  the  owner  had 
not  entirely  "  renounced  the  pomps  and  vanities  of  this  wicked 
world,"  and  my  spleen  was  excited. 

"  Ay,  sweep  along,"  I  bitterly  muttered,  "  worthy  type  in- 
deed of  the  apostles  !  I  like  the  pride  that  apes  humihty.  Is 
that  the  way  you  teach  your  flock  to  '  leave  all  and  follow  me  V  " 
I  started  up  suddenly,  saying  to  myself,  "  I  will  seek  this  man 
in  his  palace,  and  see  whether  I  shall  be  kindly  received  and 
consoled,  or  be  repulsed  by  a  menial." 

The  thought  was  sudden,  and  being  conceived  almost  in  a 
state  of  phrenzy,  was  instantly  executed.  "  Let  me  try,"  said 
I,  "  whether  a  bishop  can  '  administer  to  the  mind  diseased '  as 
well  as  a  country  curate  ?" 

I  moved  on  with  rapidity  to  the  palace,  more  in  a  fit  of  des- 
peration than  with  a  view  of  seeking  peace  of  mind.  I  rang 
loudly  and  vehemently  at  the  gate,  and  asked  whether  the 
bishop  was  at  home.  An  elderly  domestic,  who  seemed  to 
regard  me  with  astonishment,  answered  in  the  affirmative,  and 
desired  me  to  walk  into  an  ante-room,  while  he  announced  me 
to  his  master. 

I  now  began  to  recall  my  scattered  senses,  which  had  been 
wandering,  and  to  perceive  the  absurdity  of  my  conduct ;  I  was, 
therefore,  about  to  quit  the  palace,  into  which  I  had  so  rudely 
intruded,  without  waiting  for  my  audience,  when  the  servant 
opened  the  door  and  requested  me  to  follow  him. 

By  what  inscrutable  means  are  the  designs  of  Providence 
brought  about  !  While  I  thought  I  was  blindly  following  the 
imi)ulse  of  passion,  I  was,  in  fact,  guided  by  unerring  Wisdom. 
A  [trey  to  desperate  and  irritated  feeUngs,  I  anticipated,  with 
malignant  pleasure,  that  I  should  detect  hypocrisy — that  one 
who  ought  to  set  an  example  should  be  weighed  by  me,  and 
found  wanting;  instead  of  which  T  stumbled  on  my  own  salva- 


398  FRANK   MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

tion  !  Where  I  expected  to  meet  with  pride  and  scorn,  I  met 
with  humility  and  Iciudness.  When  I  had  loolved  around  on 
the  great  circle  bounded  by  the  visible  horizon,  and  could  per- 
ceive no  friendly  port  in  which  I  might  lay  my  shattered  ves- 
sel, behold,  it  was  close  at  hand  ! 

I  followed  the  servant  with  a  kind  of  stupid  indifference,  and 
was  ushered  into  the  presence  of  a  benevolent-looking  old  man, 
between  sixty  and  seventy  years  of  age.  His  whole  external 
appearance,  as  well  as  his  white  hairs,  commanded  respect 
amounting  almost  to  admiration.  I  was  not  prepared  to  speak, 
which  he  perceived,  and  kindly  began  : 

"  As  you  are  a  stranger  to  me,  I  fear  from  your  care-worn 
countenance  that  it  is  no  common  occurrence  which  has  brought 
you  here.  Sit  down;  you  seem  in  distress;  and  if  it  is  in  my 
power  to  afford  you  relief,  you  may  be  assured  that  I  will  do 
so." 

There  was  in  his  manner  and  address  an  affectionate  kind- 
ness which  overcame  me.  I  could  neither  speak  nor  look  at 
him ;  but  laying  my  head  on  the  table,  and  hiding  my  face  with 
my  hands,  I  wept  bitterly.  The  good  bishop  allowed  me  rea- 
sonable time  to  recover  myself,  and,  with  extreme  good  breeding, 
mildly  requested  that,  if  it  were  possible,  I  would  confide  to  him 
the  cause  of  my  affliction. 

"  Be  not  afraid  or  ashamed,  my  good  lad,"  said  he,  "  to  tell 
me  your  sorrows.  If  we  have  temporal  blessings,  we  do  not 
forget  that  we  are  but  the  almoners  of  the  Lord  :  we  endeavour 
to  follow  his  example  ;  but  if  I  may  judge  from  appearance,  it 
is  not  pecuniary  aid  you  have  come  to  solicit." 

"  No,  no,"  replied  I;  "it  is  not  money  that  I  want;"  but 
choked  with  excess  of  feeling,  I  could  say  no  more. 

"  This  is  indeed  a  more  important  case  than  one  of  mere 
bodily  want,"  said  the  good  man.  "  That  we  might  very  soon 
supply;  but  there  seems  something  in  your  condition  which  re» 
quires  our  more  serious  attention.  I  thank  the  Almighty  for 
selecting  me  to  this  service;  and,  with  his  blessing,  we  shall  not 
fail  of .  ucccss." 


THR    NAVAL    OFFICER.  399 

Then  going  to  the  door,  lie  called  to  a  yonng  lady,  whom  I 
afterwards  found  was  his  daughter,  and  holding  the  door  ajar 
as  he  spoke,  that  I  might  not  be  seen  in  my  distress,  said, 
*  Caroline,  my  dear,  write  to  the  duke,  and  beg  him  to  excuse 
my  dining  with  him  to-day.  Tell  him  that  I  am  kept  at  home 
by  business  of  importance;  and  give  orders  that  I  be  not  inter- 
rupted on  any  account." 

He  then  turned  the  key  in  the  door,  and  drawing  a  chair 
close  to  mine,  begged  me,  in  the  most  persuasive  manner,  to 
tell  him  everything  without  reserve,  in  order  that  he  might 
apply  such  a  remedy  as  the  case  seemed  to  demand. 

I  first  asked  for  a  glass  of  wine,  which  was  instantly  brought; 
he  received  it  at  the  door,  and  gave  it  to  me  with  his  own 
hand. 

Having  drank  it,  I  commenced  the  history  of  my  life  in  a 
brief  outline,  and  ultimately  told  him  all;  nearly  as  much  in 
detail  as  I  have  related  it  to  the  reader.  He  listened  to  me 
with  an  intense  and  painful  interest,  questioning  me  as  to  my 
feelings  on  many  important  occasions;  and  having  at  length 
obtained  from  me  an  honest  and  candid  confession,  without  any 
extenuation, 

"  My  young  friend,"  said  he,  "  your  life  nas  been  one  of  pecu- 
liar temptation  and  excess, — much  to  deplore,  much  to  blame, 
and  much  to  repent  of ;  but  the  state  of  feeling  which  induced 
you  to  come  to  me,  is  a  proof  that  you  now  only  require  that 
which,  with  God's  help,  I  trust  \  shall  be  able  to  supply.  It  is 
now  late,  and  we  both  of  us  require  some  refreshment.  I  will 
order  in  dinner,  and  you  must  send  to  the  inn  for  your  portman- 
teau." 

Perceiving  that  I  was  about  to  answer,  "  I  must  take  no  de- 
nial," resumed  he.  "  You  have  placed  yourself  under  my  care, 
as  your  physician,  and  you  must  follow  my  prescriptions.  jSIy 
duty  is  as  much  more  important,  compai'ed  to  the  doctor's,  as 
the  soul  is  to  the  body." 

Dinner  being  served,  he  dismissed  the  servants  as  soon  as  pos- 
i  ■!  le,  and  then  asked  me  many  questions  relative  to  my  family, 


400  FKANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

all  of  which  1  answered  without  reserve.  He  once  mentioned 
Miss  Somerville;  but  I  was  so  overcome,  that  he  perceived  my 
distress,  and  hlliiig  me  a  glass  of  wiue,  changed  the  subject. 

If  I  thought  that  any  words  of  mine  could  do  justice  to  the 
persuasive  discourses  of  this  worthy  bishop,  I  would  have  bene- 
fited the  world  by  making  them  public;  but  I  could  not  do  this; 
and  I  trust  that  none  of  my  readers  will  have  so  much  need  of 
them  as  I  had  myself.  I  shall  therefore  briefly  state,  that  I  re- 
mained iu  the  palace  ten  days,  in  the  most  perfect  seclusion. 

Every  morning  the  good  bishop  dedicated  two  or  three  hours 
to  my  instruction  and  improvement;  he  put  into  my  hands  one 
or  two  books  at  a  time,  with  marks  in  them,  indicating  the 
pages  which  I  ought  to  consult.  He  would  have  introduced  me  to 
his  family ;  but  this  I  begged  for  a  time  to  decline,  being  too  much 
depressed  and  out  of  spirits ;  and  he  indulged  me  iu  my  request 
of  being  allowed  to  continue  iu  the  apartments  allotted  to  me. 

On  tlie  seventh  morning  he  came  to  me,  and  after  a  short 
conversation,  informed  me  that  business  would  require  his  ab- 
sence for  two  or  three  days,  and  that  he  would  give  me  a  task 
to  employ  me  during  the  short  time  he  should  be  gone.  He 
then  put  into  my  hand  a  work  on  the  sacrament.  "  This,"  said 
he,  "  I  am  sure  you  will  read  with  particular  attention,  so  that  on 
my  return,  I  may  invite  you  to  the  feast."  I "  trembled  as  I 
opened  the  book.  "Fear  not,  Mr.  Mildmay,"  said  he;  "I  tell 
you  from  what  I  see  of  your  symptoms,  that  the  cure  will  be 
complete." 

Having  said  this,  he  gave  me  his  blessing,  and  departed.  He 
returned  exactly  at  the  end  of  three  days,  and  after  a  short  ex- 
amination, said  he  would  allow  me  to  receive  the  sacrament, 
and  that  the  holy  ceremony  should  take  place  in  his  own  room, 
l)rivately,  well  knowing  how  much  affected  I  should  be.  He 
brought  in  the  bread  and  wine;  and  having  consecrated  and 
partaken  of  them  himself,  agreeably  to  the  forms  prescribed, 
lie  HKide  a  short  extempore  prayer  in  my  behalf. 

VVheu  he  had  done  this,  he  advanced  towards  me,  and  pre- 
sented the  ))read.     My- blood  curdled  as  I  took  it  in  my  mouth; 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  401 

and  when  I  Iiad  tasted  the  wine,  the  type  of  the  blood  of  that  Sa- 
viour, whose  wounds  I  had  so  often  opened  afresh  iu  my  guilty 
career,  and  yet  upon  the  merits  of  which  I  now  relied  for  pardon, 
I  felt  a  combined  sensation  of  love,  gratitude  and  joy — a  light- 
ness and  buoyancy  of  spirits,  as  if  I  could  have  left  the  earth 
below  me,  disburdened  of  a  weight  that  had,  till  then,  crushed 
me  to  the  ground.  I  felt  that  1  had  faith — that  I  was  a  new 
man — and  that  my  sins  were  forgiven;  and,  dropping  my  head 
on  the  side  of  the  table,  I  remained  some  minutes  in  grateful 
and  fervent  prayer. 

The  service  being  ended,  I  hastened  to  express  my  acknow- 
ledgments to  my  venerable  friend. 

"  I  am  but  the  humble  instrument,  my  dear  young  friend,"  said 
the  bishop;  let  us  both  give  thanks  to  the  almighty  Searcher  of 
hearts.  Let  us  hope  that  the  work  is  perfect — for  then,  you  will 
be  the  occasion  of  "joy  in  heaven."  And  now,  continued  he, 
"let  me  ask  you  one  question.  Do  you  feel  in  that  state  of 
mind  that  you  could  bear  any  affliction  which  might  befall  you, 
without  repining  ?" 

"I  trust,  sir,"  answered  I,  "that  I  could  bear  it,  not  only 
cheerfully,  but  thankfully;  and  I  now  acknowledge  that  it  is 
good  for  me  that  I  have  been  in  trouble." 

"Then  all  is  riglit,"  said  he;  "and  with  such  feelings  I  may 
venture  to  give  you  this  letter,  which  I  promised  the  writer  to 
deliver  with  my  own  hand." 

As  soon  as  my  eye  caught  the  superscription,  "  Gracious 
heaven  !"  exclaimed  I;  "it  is  from  my  Emily." 

"  Even  so  !"  said  the  bishop. 

I  tore  it  open.     Its  contents  were  as  follows  : — 

"  Our  mutual  kind  friend,  the  bishop,  has  proved  to  me  how 
proud  and  how  foolish  I  have  been.  Forgive  me,  dear  Frank, 
for  I  too  have  suffered  much;  and  come  as  soon  as  possible  to 
your  ever  affectionate  Emily." 

This,  then,  was  the  ol)ject  of  the  venerable  bishop's  absence. 
Bending  beneath  ago  and  infirmity,  he  had  undertaken  a  journey 


402  FRANK    MILDMAY  ;    OR, 

of  three  hundred  miles,  in  order  to  ensure  the  temporal  as  well 
as  eternal  welfare  of  a  perfect  stranger — to  effect  a  reconcilia- 
tion, without  wliich  he  saw  that  my  worldly  happiness  was  in- 
complete. I  was  afterwards  informed,  that  notwithstanding  the 
weight  of  his  character  and  holy  office,  he  had  found  Emily 
more  decided  in  her  rejection  than  he  had  anticipated;  and  it 
was  not  until  he  had  sliarply  rebuked  her  for  her  pride  and  un- 
forgiving temper,  that  she  could  be  brought  to  listen  with 
patience  to  his  arguments.  But  having  at  length  convinced 
her  that  the  tenure  of  her  own  hopes  depended  on  her  forgiveness 
of  others,  she  relented,  acknowledged  the  truth  of  his  remarks, 
and  her  undiminished  affection  for  me.  While  she  made  this 
confession,  she  was  in  the  same  position  before  the  bishop,  that 
I  was  when  I  received  her  letter — on  my  knees,  and  in  tears. 

He  gave  me  his  hand,  and  raised  me  up.  "  And  now,  my 
young  friend,"  said  he,  "  let  me  give  you  one  caution.  I  hope 
and  I  trust  that  your  repentance  is  sincere.  If  it  be  not,  the 
guilt  must  rest  on  your  own  head;  but  I  trust  in  God  that  all 
is  as  it  should  be.  I  will  not,  therefore,  detain  you  any  longer  : 
you  must  be  impatient  to  be  gone.  Refreshment  is  prepared 
for  you:  my  horses  will  take  you  the  first  stage.  Have  you 
funds  sufficient  to  carry  you  through  ?  for  it  is  a  long  journey, 
as  my  old  bones  can  testify." 

I  assured  him  that  I  was  sufficiently  provided,  and,  expressing 
my  thanks  for  his  kindness,  wished  that  it  was  in  my  power  to 
l)rove  my  gratitude.  "  Put  me  to  the  test,  my  lord,"  said  I, 
"  if  you  possibly  can." 

"  Well,  then,"  replied  he,  "  I  will  :  when  the  day  for  your  union 
with  Miss  Somcrville  is  fixed,  allow  me  to  have  the  pleasure 
of  joining  your  hands,  sliould  it  please  God  to  spare  me  so  long. 
I  have  removed  the  disease;  but  I  must  trust  to  somebody  else 
to  watch  and  prevent  a  relapse.  And  believe  me,  my  dear 
friend,  however  well  inclined  a  man  may  be  to  keep  in  the 
straight  path,  he  gains  no  little  support  from  the  guidance  and 
example  of  a  lovely  and  virtuous  woman." 

I  promised  readily  all  lie  asked;  and  having  finished  a  slight 


THE    NAVAL    OFFICER.  403 

lunch,  again  shook  hands  with  the  wortliy  prelate,  jumped  into 
my  carnage,  and  drove  off.  I  travelled  all  night;  and  the  next 
day  was  in  the  society  of  those  I  loved,  and  who  had  ever  loved 
me,  in  spite  of  all  my  pcrversenoss  and  folly. 

A  few  weeks  aftfr,  family  and  I  were  united  by  the  venerable 
bishop,  who,  with  much  emotion,  gave  us  his  benediction;  and 
as  the  prayer  of  the  righteous  man  availeth  much,  I  felt  that  it 
was  recorded  in  our  favor  in  Heaven.  Mr.  Somerville  gave  the 
bride  away.  My  father,  with  Talbot  and  Clara,  were  present; 
and  the  whole  of  us,  after  all  my  strange  vicissitudes,  were 
deeply  affected  at  this  reconciliation  and  union. 


THE      END, 


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of  Portland  Place,  London,  12mo. 

Cloth,    1  25 

Tlie  House  3  Uivc  In;  or, 
'I'lie  Human  BSoily,  by  Wm. 

A.  Alcott,  M.D.,  1  vol.  ISmo 63 

Tlie  American  Gift  Book. 

A  Perpetual  Souvenir,  with  six 
elegant    steel    engravings,    12mo. 

Cloth,    1  00 

Tlie  Sultan  and  His  Peo- 
ple, by  C.  Oscanyan,  with  nume- 
rous illustrations,  12mo Cloth,    1  25 

Tlie  American  Bevolution 
and  Beauties  ol   Amcri-  . 

can   BBistory,  12mo Cloth,    100 

Tlie  HusbaBid  in  1  tali,  ed- 
ited b.y  Maria  Ward,  author  of  "  Fe- 
male Life  among  the  Mormons," 
12mo Cloth,     1  00 

Tlie  I'lillosopliy  of  Skep- 
ticism   and   Uliraism,  by 

Rev.  J.  B.  Walker,  author  of  "The 
Philosophy  of  the  Plan  of  Salva- 
tion," 12iao Cloth,    1  25 

Biiclian's  Domestic  Med> 
icinc    and   Family  Pliy- 

sician,  12mo Cloth,    125. 

Walker  on  Female  Beauty, 

]2mo Cloth,     1  00 

Fox's  Ifook  of  Martyrs,  il- 
lustrated, 12mo 1  25 

Captain  Molly.  The  Story  of 
a  lirave  Woman,  by  Thrace  Tal- 
mon,  12mo 1  00 

Tlie  Prisoner  of  tlie  Bor- 

der,by  P.  Hamilton  Myers,  author 
of  "  The  Last  of  the  Hurons,"  &c., 
12mo 1  26 


•  ^  \F 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


A  A  001  409  771  1 


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